Tongan fans are furious after rugby league officials scheduled their national team’s match against New Zealand on Sunday, November 2—a move seen as disregarding Tonga’s sacred Sabbath traditions.
The tournament’s second round will see Tonga take on Samoa at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday October 26.
The decision has sparked backlash, as Tonga’s Christian traditions strictly prohibit work, trade, and sports on Sundays, upholding the Biblical commandment to keep the day holy.
Social media critics accuse organisers of cultural insensitivity, with many calling for an immediate rescheduling.
This comes after the Tongan government recently pledged stricter nationwide Sunday enforcement, reinforcing King Tupou VI’s recent reaffirmation of Sabbath observance as a core national value.
The monarch’s remarks come amid reports by Kaniva News highlighting inconsistent enforcement of Sunday trading laws, with allegations that some businesses remain open for tourists while locals face restrictions.
Although Tonga’s constitution prohibits Sunday activities considered secular or non-religious, it grants Cabinet Ministers the authority to authorise exceptions.
While emergencies qualify, permitting restaurants and hotels to operate for tourists has often stirred repeated controversy, with critics condemning the double standard that allows tourists to dine while local businesses must shut.
Faith Clashes With Football
In sports, it is not uncommon for Tongan players to observe Sunday religious prohibitions by refusing to play on the Sabbath.
In 2016, former Canterbury Bulldogs star William Hopoate notably stood down from Sunday rugby league matches due to his faith.
In 2003, Rev. Penisimani Fonua, then General Secretary of Tonga’s Free Wesleyan Church, publicly objected to the national rugby team’s scheduled Sunday World Cup match against Wales in Australia. Fonua emphasised that Tonga, as a devoutly Christian nation, observes Sunday as a holy day.
The New Zealand Rugby League announced the Pacific Championship 2025 yesterday, revealing that another fiercely contested double-header will take place at Eden Park on Sunday, November 2.
It said the event will feature the Kiwi Ferns facing the Australian Jillaroos, followed by the Kiwis taking on Tonga.
Social Media Backlash Erupts
“Disrespectful much? Tonga observes the Sabbath as a day of worship, not rugby. Organisers couldn’t find ANY other day?” wrote one fan on Facebook in Tongan, capturing the outrage flooding Tongan social media circles.
The criticism gained momentum as others joined the thread. “Shame on NZRL! Players shouldn’t have to choose between faith and sport,” another wrote.
“Please respect our holy day.”
Sarcasm soon sharpened the tone. “Cool, let’s just ignore a nation’s sacred day for ‘entertainment.’ What’s next—Easter Monday tackle tournaments?” quipped a Tongan meme account, sparking dozens of reactions.
Not all criticized the scheduling, with some fans contrasting the match with rowdy weekend behavior: ‘A Sunday game beats Saturday-night parties spilling into Sunday with noise and fights,’ one posted.
Some commenters invoked the proverb – When in Rome, do as the Romans do, arguing that Tongan teams playing in New Zealand and Australia should adapt to local norms where Sabbath bans don’t exist.
“If we want to compete internationally, we can’t expect host countries to follow Tonga’s religious laws,” wrote one Facebook user,
