The Ikale Tahi rugby team has committed to turning around its record string of losses as it prepares to face Georgia in Tbilisi this Sunday at local time.
Tonga’s national rugby team has struggled significantly in 2024, recording only one victory in their last nine matches under the direction of new head coach Tevita Tu’ifua.
This disappointing run includes notable defeats against Romania and the USA’s Eagles, further amplifying the team’s challenges on the international stage.
As a result of these performances, Tonga’s ranking has dropped to 19th in the world, placing them below Portugal.
Securing a victory against Georgia would relieve some of the immediate pressure on their performance and serves as a morale booster as they prepare for next year’s important task of World Cup qualification.
Head coach Tu’ifua could not be reached for comment.
Ikale Tahi’s captain, Ben Tameifuna, who plays in France, spoke with ABC Radio News yesterday about the team’s current performance.
He expressed optimism that the team could improve its performance and secure a victory in their upcoming matches by making some strategic adjustments and fine-tuning their approach.
Tameifuna emphasised the importance of regrouping and focusing on their skills to regain a winning mentality.
The losing streak and the low international ranking are taking their toll on the fans.
Many have taken to social media and public forums to express their frustration, suggesting that the national team’s recent losses have made them a subject of ridicule.
“Someone has to step up and save the Rugby in Tonga, this is embarrassing,” a commenter wrote.
Many fans are frustrated and see the team’s poor performance as disappointing, highlighting growing concerns about the direction of the team’s progress.
Several critics accused the coach of favouring local players as part of a strategy to build for the future. However, this approach proved ineffective, as the desired outcomes were not achieved on the field, raising concerns about the viability of this plan and the overall direction of the team.
“Even when we had the all stars for the world cup, we still could barely produce any results I mean against Australia A, we had an all star backline and we still couldn’t win like a convincing win. I don’t know about the gene pool of players now, but Billy Vunipola made a valid point. We should go back to grassroots rugby and develop our players from there. There’s not much we can do with the players of today. They’ve done their best”, one commenter wrote.
Some believe the financial situation is one of the main challenges facing the Ikale Tahi rugby team.
“This limited budget hampers their ability to recruit and afford the expenses associated with international players”, another commented in Tongan.
“As a result, the team’s overall competitiveness on the global stage may be affected, making it difficult for them to attract top talent and strengthen their lineup”.
