The Tongan Ikale Tahi rugby team viewed Friday’s match against the Flying Fijians as a crucial opportunity to develop a strong squad for the upcoming 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. This perspective was expressed by team captain Ben Tameifuna following their loss of 19-50 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 we are currently focused on giving our players a chance to prove themselves and hopefully achieve our objective,” Tameifuna stated.
Next week, the Tongan team will head to Japan to compete against Canada, and they are incorporating several talented players to gain valuable experience at higher levels of competition. Tameifuna emphasized the importance of early exposure for players on stages like the Pacific Nations Cup to create pathways for better opportunities in their rugby careers.
As the Ikale Tahi advances to the fourth-place playoff, the match against the Flying Fijians also celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first test match, which took place in 1924.