Tonga

There is to be no Rugby Championship expansion. Speculation of a new format for the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international competition has pointed to possibly adding Fiji or Japan. However Americas Rugby News has been told that no changes will be made. Fiji is ranked above Argentina in World Rankings. Samoa …

Tonga ‘A’ defeated Samoa ‘A’ by 31-28 in Round 3 of the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo on Sunday. While the scores were very close, the Tongans outscored Samoa by five tries to four and were the dominant side in terms of possession and field territory. After Ricky Pauli Ene …

The first of three derby matches to kick off the final day of the Americas Pacific Challenge will see island neighbors Tonga ‘A’ square off against Samoa ‘A’ on Sunday. It’s been mixed results thus far for the two teams, which each sporting one win from two. Tonga’s success came …

Canada’s woes continued on Wednesday as the ‘A’ side fell to a 31-15 defeat against Tonga ‘A’ at the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo. The power of the Pacific Islanders in the contact area was a decisive factor with Canada conceding numerous turnovers at the breakdown. The opening quarter saw …

Two teams looking for their first win in the Americas Pacific Challenge will go head-to-head on Wednesday at the Estadio Charrúa. Tonga ‘A’ had a respectable showing against hosts Uruguay on Saturday but ultimately came up short with the scrum a major culprit. Canada ‘A’ meanwhile had little to cheer …

Uruguay ‘A’ were tested by their Tongan rivals but ultimately took a decisive 34-25 win on the back of a dominant scrum at the Estadio Charrúa on Saturday. Keen to open the Americas Pacific Challenge in style, the home side struggled to find ways through a determined Tongan defense and …

Uruguay will use the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge as part of their World Cup Qualifying preparations and will begin their tournament against Tonga in the first round on Saturday. Uruguay will field an ‘A’ side of test strength while Tonga name just one capped player in their largely domestic-based squad. …

Uruguay will use the Americas Pacific Challenge to audition a number of senior players for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Only two of the 28-man ‘A’ side are yet to win test caps and there are eight members of the 2015 Rugby World Cup team named in a squad brimming …

Tonga have sent 28 players as part of their national ‘A’ squad to take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo. Coaching the team is former Ikale Tahi lock Isi Fatani, a 1999 World Cup veteran. Hooker Sione Lolohea will continue his role as captain. This will be Tonga’s …

Samoa will send a young ‘A’ team with very little international experience to Montevideo to take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge. The squad is comprised entirely of domestic-based players coming from a new regional tournament dubbed the Super 9, which replaced the old national provincial competition. It’s an important …