Tongan Rugby Fans Misses out Due to Stadium Failure
Moana Pasifika’s highly anticipated Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Chiefs has been relocated from Nuku’alofa, Tonga, to Pukekohe, New Zealand, due to delays in Teufaiva Stadium’s upgrades. The primary issue cited for the move was the incomplete installation of floodlights, which would have affected the scheduled 6pm kickoff. Tonga Rugby Union CEO ‘Aisea ‘Aholelei confirmed the setback, marking another bitter disappointment for Tongan rugby fans who were eagerly awaiting the return of international rugby to home soil.
Tonga is a country that breathes rugby. Last year, Moana Pasifika included Tonga in their schedule, boasting a squad with a strong contingent of Tongan players. Despite torrential rain, the match was a success, with fans showing up in force to witness high-level rugby in their own backyard. Major rugby fixtures at Teufaiva Stadium are rare, aside from the occasional ‘Ikale Tahi test match. With Tonga’s national team struggling in recent seasons, Moana Pasifika’s presence offered a refreshing change and a moment of pride for local fans.
From a rugby union perspective, hosting the match was a strategic move, particularly given the meteoric rise of the Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league team since their historic 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign. The match also provided a golden opportunity for Tonga’s tourism industry, with global exposure through live broadcasts—publicity that, as they say, “money can’t buy.” However, despite the numerous benefits, neither the government nor the Tonga Rugby Union capitalised on last year’s success. Three weeks before the scheduled game, the announcement was made that the match could not proceed in Tonga due to the failure to install floodlights in time for the 21 March kickoff. Tonga Independent had reported on the light installation plans as far back as November 2024, raising serious questions about why the issue was not addressed sooner. How was such a major sporting event allowed to slip through the cracks? Surely, someone in charge should have ensured the job was completed well ahead of schedule.
This is not the first time Teufaiva Stadium has let rugby fans down. In 2017, a test match against Wales had to be relocated to Auckland after the playing field was deemed unfit, despite the stadium successfully hosting the Pacific Nations Cup that same year. This latest failure further highlights the ongoing infrastructure challenges that continue to hinder Tonga’s ability to host top-tier rugby matches.
Moana Pasifika CEO Debbie Sorensen expressed her deep disappointment over the relocation but reaffirmed the team’s commitment to playing in the Pacific. “Our hearts are in the Pacific, and that is where we want to be, but it wasn’t possible for this fixture due to things that were out of our hands,” she said. She remains hopeful that Tonga will finally host a Moana Pasifika match in 2026. Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging that the team had been looking forward to playing in Tonga and would support future fixtures in the region. “Playing in the Pacific Islands is always a highlight for us,” he added.
Former Moana Pasifika CEO Pelenato Sakalia highlighted the financial and logistical hurdles of hosting matches in Tonga and Samoa compared to Fiji. He pointed to significant infrastructure and economic disparities that make it more difficult to hold professional rugby events in these nations. “Taking games to the Pacific is an expensive affair, and when you compare the economic trade and financial assistance that Fiji receives versus what comes into Samoa and Tonga, the challenge becomes clear,” Sakalia explained.
The relocation of this match is more than just a scheduling inconvenience—it represents a deeper failure of planning and investment in Tonga’s sporting infrastructure. The opportunity was there to build on last year’s success, to give rugby fans a high-profile match to celebrate, and to showcase Tonga to the world. Instead, a lack of urgency and accountability led to another missed chance. Despite these setbacks, Moana Pasifika remains committed to growing rugby in the Pacific. The relocated match will now take place at Pukekohe’s Navigation Homes Stadium on 21 March. Whether Tonga will successfully host a fixture in the near future remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: if the country truly wants to be part of the elite rugby calendar, urgent improvements in planning and infrastructure management are needed. Otherwise, this cycle of disappointment will continue.
