Tonga name Pacific Nations Cup squad with Canada on horizon

Toutai Kefu has named his 35-man Ikale Tahi squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup. Tonga will take on Fiji, Japan, and Samoa on the road before returning home to play two tests against Canada in August as part of their final World Cup preparations. Rugby Canada have yet to confirm the series.

Four new names have been selected, the most notable being London Irish lock Adam Coleman, who played 38 tests for the Wallabies and represented Australia at the 2019 World Cup. The others are Coventry flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini, Toulouse center Pita Ahki, and Tonga 7s standout Kyren Taumoefolau.

Coleman and Ahki are among 11 players who have represented other nations at senior level. Former Wallabies Lopeti Timani and Israel Folau join Coleman, along with ex-Australia 7s select Afusipa Taumoepeau. Five have played for the All Blacks – Vaea Fifita, Augustine Pulu, George Moala, Malakai Fekitoa, and Charles Piutau, while Ahki starred for New Zealand on the World Sevens Series. Tau Koloamatangi played for Hong Kong against Belgium in 2019.

Six members of the Moana Pasifika team in Super Rugby have been named, along with Crusaders loose forward Sione Havili. The bulk of the squad plays their club rugby in Europe, with 11 from France, 6 from the United Rugby Championship, and 3 from the English Premiership.

 

TONGA – ROSTER 2023

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (Pau, FR) 18 caps
Fe’ao Fotuaika (Lyon, FR) 1 cap
David Lolohea (Provence, FR) 7 caps

HOOKER
Siua Maile (Benetton Treviso, IT) 12 caps
Sam Moli (Moana Pasifika) 9 caps
Paula Ngauamo (Castres, FR) 23 caps
Sefo Sakalia (Kolomotu’a) 14 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Joe Apikotoa (Moana Pasifika) 2 caps
Tau Koloamatangi (Moana Pasifika) 3 caps
Ben Tameifuna (Bordeaux Bègles, FR) 23 caps

SECOND ROW
Adam Coleman (London Irish, UK) uncapped
Leva Fifita (Connacht, IR) 27 caps
Sam Lousi (Scarlets, UK) 11 caps
Steve Mafi (Oyonnax, FR) 35 caps

BACK ROW
Vaea Fifita (Scarlets, UK) 3 caps
Solomone Funaki (Moana Pasifika) 7 caps
Tanginoa Halaifonua (Grenoble, FR) 8 caps
Sione Havili (Crusaders, NZ) 6 caps
Lopeti Timani (Cardiff, UK) 1 cap
Sione Vailanu (Glasgow Warriors, UK) 9 caps

SCRUMHALF
Manu Paea (Moana Pasifika) 5 caps
Augustine Pulu (Hino Red Dolphins, JP) 3 caps
Tane Takulua (Agen, FR) 48 caps

FLYHALF
William Havili (Moana Pasifika) 6 caps
Otumaka Mausia (College Rifles, NZ) 5 caps
Patrick Pellegrini (Coventry, UK) uncapped

MIDFIELD
Pita Ahki (Toulouse, FR) uncapped
Malakai Fekitoa (Munster, IR) 3 caps
George Moala (Clermont Auvergne, FR) 3 caps
Afusipa Taumoepeau (Perpignan, FR) 8 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Israel Folau (Urayasu D-Rocks, JP) 1 cap
Solomone Kata (Exeter Chiefs, UK) 5 caps
Fine Inisi (Moana Pasifika) 4 caps
Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears, UK) 1 cap
Kyren Taumoefolau (Tonga Sevens) uncapped