Players were the heroes who inspired young people, King Tupou VI told members of the Rugby Invitational XIII this week.
Speaking at ceremony at his residence, His Majesty said players provide inspiration for young people.
“Sport in Tonga has never been about divisions,” the king said.
“It has been about unity and peace; putting aside divisions and uniting under the banner of sport.
“We can do more if we are united as this rugby league team has shown us and the world in the recent past.”
The king said sport was about putting aside divisions, seeing the larger picture and doing the right thing.
“Imagine what we could do if we were all united and pulling in the same direction,” he said.
After his speech, His Majesty bestowed the Most Illustrious Order of Queen Salote to a number of players.
Yesterday, Friday 25, was declared a public holiday to celebrate the Invitational XIII’s wins over the British Lions and the Kangaroos.
A parade of 21 vehicles was scheduled to take the players to the Teufaiva Sport Stadium.
Determination
The team’s victories have reinforced the determination of the players to refuse to have anything to do with the Tongan Rugby National League.
A bitter dispute broke out between the players and the game’s administration after coach Kristian Woolf was sacked. He was later re-installed at the insistence of the game’s international ruling body.
Jason Taumalolo told the NRL’s official website: “We will not reconcile nor play under the current board members.”
“The attempts to publicly discredit the players and the staff of the group that represented the Tonga Invitational XIII means that is out of the question.”
The main points
- Players were the heroes who inspired young people, King Tupou VI told members of the Rugby Invitational XIII this week.
- Speaking at ceremony at his residence, His Majesty said players provide inspiration for young people.
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