Kurt Morath named in strong Tonga touring squad

Austin Gilgronis flyhalf Kurt Morath has been named in Tonga’s squad for their upcoming tour of Europe. The Ikale Tahi will play matches tests against Scotland, England, and Romania, with an additional match against the French Barbarians. An interim coach has yet to be confirmed with Toutai Kefu still recovering from stab wounds incurred during a home invasion in August.

Morath is Tonga’s all-time leading scorer with 340 points in 38 caps won over a decade of test rugby. He was forced off the pitch with a throat injury in his most recent cap against England at Rugby World Cup 2019. The New Zealand-born veteran will celebrate his his 37th birthday on the day that Tonga are to play the Barbarians in Lyon.

A 40-strong group has been selected with more than half plying their trade in France. Morath is the only US-based player. It represents a major upgrade on the severely understrength lineup that played during the pandemic-plagued July international window.

Among the uncapped players are loosehead prop Loni Uhila, formerly of the Hurricanes and Clermont who is the younger brother of Utah Warriors lock Saia Uhila. Former Wallabies forward Lopeti Timani is included after switching his allegiance using the Olympic loophole. Another making the switch is former Australia Sevens international Afusipa Taumopeau.

Uhila, Timani, and Taumoepeau are among 10 uncapped inclusions. The others are former Australia u20 hooker Maile Ngauamo, second or back rows Setefano Funaki and Tanginoa Halaifonua, flyhalf Navarre Haisila, and a trio capable of playing center or wing in Latu Latunipulu, Vaea Vaea, and Atunaisa Manu.

LH PROP
Jethro Felemi (Queensland Reds, AU), Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (Pau, FR), David Lolohea (Provence, FR), Loni Uhila (Hyères, FR)

HOOKER
Sione Anga’aelangi (Bourg-en-Bresse, FR), Siua Maile (Manawatu, NZ), Maile Ngauamo (GPS, AU), Paula Ngauamo (Castres, FR)

TH PROP
Ma’afu Fia (Ospreys, UK), Ben Tameifuna (Bordeaux Bègles, FR), Toma Taufa (Grenoble, FR)

SECOND ROW
Leva Fifita (Connacht, IR), Sam Lousi (Scarlets, UK), Steve Mafi (London Irish, UK)

SECOND/BACK ROW
Dan Faleafa (Narbonne, FR), Setefano Funaki (Northland, NZ), Tanginoa Halaifonua (Grenoble, FR), Lopeti Timani (Toulon, FR)

BACK ROW
Onehunga Havili (Aurillac, FR), Mateaki Kafatolu (Wellington, NZ), Fotu Lokotui (Agen, FR), Valentino Mapapalangi (Rouen, FR), Sione Vailanu (Worcester Warriors, UK)

SCRUMHALF
Leon Fukofuka (Hunter Wildfires, AU), Tane Takulua (Toulon, FR), Suke Tu’umoto’oa (Hitachi Sun Nexus, JP)

FLYHALF
James Faiva (Petrarca Padova, IT), Navarre Haisila (Gordon, AU), Kurt Morath (Austin Gilgronis, US)

CENTER
Saia Fekitoa (Narbonne, FR), Mali Hingano (Bourg-en-Bresse, FR), Latu Latunipulu (Bourg-en-Bresse, FR), Afusipa Taumoepeau (Perpignan, FR), Vaea Vaea (Pau, FR)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Walter Fifita (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Viliami Fine (Otago, NZ), Daniel Kilioni (Floirac, FR), Atunaisa Manu (Stade Français, FR), Hosea Saumaki (Leicester Tigers, UK), Telusa Veainu (Stade Français, FR)