The Tongan Ikale Tahi rugby team viewed their recent match against the Flying Fijians as a vital opportunity to build a strong squad in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Captain Ben Tameifuna made this statement following their 19-50 defeat in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, during the Pacific Nations Cup.
“This is a stepping stone for us as Ikale Tahi. Our main goal is the World Cup in Australia, and our focus right now is on allowing the boys to showcase their abilities so that we can build towards that,” Tameifuna said.
Next week, the Tongan team will travel to Japan to face Canada, featuring rising talents aimed at gaining experience in high-level competition. Tameifuna emphasized the importance of early exposure for players on a prestigious platform like the Pacific Nations Cup, which could lead to better opportunities in their rugby careers.
As the Ikale Tahi move forward to the fourth-place playoff, their match against Fiji also celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first test match encounter, which took place in 1924.