An awards ceremony in South Auckland last week marked a milestone in an attempt by the New Zealand Tongan Rugby Association to revive the Aoniu Tournament, an opportunity for the local players in Tonga and overseas to join the 'Ikale Tahi squad and overseas professional rugby union clubs.
More than 30 prizes presented to players who deemed the Most Improved Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, Back of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches of the Year.
The tournament began with a Rugby Sevens Tournament in September and it was the first time a Tongan rugby association hold Sevens tournemanent in New Zealand.
‘Emosi Koloto, President of the NZTRA said the tournament ran from September to December and the result was brilliant and successful.
“After the tournament we will select one team from the six teams participated. That team would be called the Siutaka,” Koloto said.
“We have talked to the Tonga Rugby Union with president ‘Epeli Taione and Vice President Soape Tu’iono. They agreed with our idea to bring back the Aoniu Tounament,” he said.
This means Tonga and Tongans in Australia are expected to run local rubgy tournaments and would select their best players into one team respectivlely to participate in the Aoniu Tournament.
Aoniu Tournament was run in 1990s but discontinued in 2000s.
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Team |
Most Improve Player of the Year |
|
|
1st |
Eastern Stars |
Taniela Ofa |
|
2nd |
Toloa |
Lea Mohetau |
|
3rd |
Saineha |
Toa Kivalu |
|
4th |
Fasi/Ma'ufanga |
Siua Hefa |
|
5th |
Kauvai |
Lisitoni Vaka'uta |
|
6th |
Manurewa |
Jr Matavao Fanguna |
|
Back of the year |
Forward of the Year |
|
|
1st |
Solo Kata |
Siua Moala |
|
2nd |
Mo'ui Tau |
Tevita Maka |
|
3rd |
Tonga Malupo |
Siua Katoa |
|
4th |
Leakona Tovi |
Loa Havili |
|
5th |
Setefano Vaka'uta |
Poualo 'I Taula |
|
6th |
Lui Lauhingoa |
Jonathan Talia'uli |
|
2013 FInal Prize Most Improve Player of the Year |
||
|
3rd |
Jr Matavao Fanguna |
|
|
2nd |
Lea Mohetau (Toloa) |
|
|
1st |
Siua Hefa (Fasi/Ma'ufanga) |
|
|
Forward of the year |
||
|
3rd |
Siua Katoa (Sineha (2)) |
|
|
2nd |
Timote Milton (Toloa (8)) |
|
|
1st |
Kainga Pesalili (Eastern Stars) |
|
|
Back of the year |
||
|
3rd |
Leakona Tovi (Fasi/ Ma'ufanga (9)) |
|
|
2nd |
Sione Katoa (Toloa (10)) |
|
|
1st |
Michael Pongi (Easter Stars (9/10)) |
|
|
Coach of the Year (2013) |
||
|
2nd |
Ofa Topini (Toloa) |
|
|
1st |
Sione Ma'u Fifita (Eastern Stars) |
|
|
2013 Final Prize Player of the Year |
||
|
3rd |
Antonio Talakai (Saineha (7) |
|
|
2nd |
Timote Milton (Toloa (8)) |
|
|
1st |
Kainga Pesalili (Eastern (7) |
|
