Tonga’s Rugby League Struggles Amidst Governance Turmoil and International Setbacks
In 2019, the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) experienced a major setback after its suspension and eventual ousting from the International Rugby League (IRL). This has thrown the rugby league community in Tonga into a state of uncertainty. The path for budding local players hoping to venture into Rugby League now appears ambiguous and undefined.
Meanwhile, other sports like Rugby Union, supported by World Rugby, and Soccer, endorsed by FIFA, have seized the opportunity. They continue to strengthen their foundations in the island nation. In fact, Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s President, recently visited Tonga, keen on observing FIFA’s progressive initiatives and exploring potential soccer developments. The timing is apt given the consistent improvements shown by both the men’s and women’s football teams from Tonga.
In the world of Rugby Union, excitement brews in Tonga. The Ikale Tahi team recently clinched victory in both matches of a two-test series against Canada, which acts as a promising prelude to the forthcoming World Cup in September.
However, Rugby League in Tonga struggles to find its footing. The NRL’s Pacific Championship tournament for the 2023 and 2024 seasons features several Pacific nations, yet notably, Tonga isn’t on the roster. This oversight stems from internal governance issues within Tongan Rugby League.
Consequently, Kristian Woolf, the national team’s head coach, with his administrative crew, has taken over the team’s management. Post the World Cup, Woolf declared a tour to England, where he had previously served as head coach for St Helens in the English Super League.
While Woolf and the IRL currently supervise the Tongan team, a permanent Tongan federation’s establishment by the IRL is awaited. But the decision to head to England isn’t unanimous among team members. According to sources majority of the players voiced their preference for matches in the Southern Hemisphere against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa, but were surprised when Woolf announced the tour.
The players preferred to play in the southern hemisphere which would have kept them away from the cold of England and reduced travel. This divide was more pronounced during the World Cup, with accusations of Woolf favouring senior players and selecting injured players, particularly in the quarter-final against Samoa.
Financial challenges have also arisen. The government denied Kristian Woolf’s AUD$300,000 funding appeal for the England tour. This decision was influenced by the government’s commitment to support the Ikale Tahi team’s World Cup preparations.The decision to send the Tongan Rugby League team to Engalnd was not throughlty thought through, considering that Rugby Union (Tonga’s national sport) is taking part in the World Cup in France. In 2022, Woolf’s team had received AUD$900,000 in government aid, but the IRL has been covering many of the team’s expenses.
Furthermore, Woolf faces the task of renaming the team, given that the “Mate Ma’a Tonga” name and emblem are the intellectual property of the TNRL. The TNRL’s non-membership in the IRL post their 2019 expulsion has left the team in a naming predicament.
The current state of affairs highlights the intricate challenges the Tonga Rugby League confronts, emphasizing the unforeseen repercussions of IRL’s decisions. Some argue these challenges reflect underlying colonial undertones.