The Tongan Ikale Tahi rugby team is using their recent match against the Flying Fijians as a chance to build a strong squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in Australia. Captain Ben Tameifuna shared these thoughts following the team’s loss of 19-50 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, during the Pacific Nations Cup.
Tameifuna emphasized that this match served as an essential foundation for the team, stating, “This is a stepping stone for us. Our main goal is the World Cup in Australia, and we are focused on giving the boys the opportunity to showcase their abilities.”
Next week, the Tongans will head to Japan to face Canada, with the team integrating promising players who can benefit from competing at higher levels. Tameifuna highlighted the importance of such exposure early on, particularly on platforms like the Pacific Nations Cup, to pave the way for greater future opportunities.
As the Ikale Tahi move on to the fourth-place playoff, the match against Fiji also marked the 100th anniversary of their first test match encounter, which took place in 1924.