Home Blog Page 488

Dr Tu‘i‘onetoa may challenge for PM; Hon. Tapueluelu wants to stand with loyal MPs

By
Kalino Latu
-

MP for Tongatapu 10 Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa will challenge Deputy Prime Minister Semisi  Sika for the premiership, reliable sources have told Kaniva news.

Kaniva news understands that three other Democratic MP and cabinet members have defected.

They have been named as Minister of Justice Vuna Fa’otusia, MP Vatau Hui and outgoing minister MP Akosita Lavulavu.

The challenge against Hon. Sika, who the late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva  wanted to succeed him, will be confirmed tomorrow when the Speaker opens the envelopes with the names of the candidates.

A press release from the Speaker of the House suggested there would be two candidates.

A special meeting has been called for tomorrow at 10am to elect the Prime Minister.

The Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua called  for nominations following the death of Hon. Pohiva.

Nominations for the election closed at 4.30pm today.

Police Minister Mateni Tapueluelu told Kaniva news earlier this week the Democrats did not have the numbers in the election for Prime Minister.

However, yesterday he and the remaining PTOA (Democrat) cabinet ministers and MPs were negotiating with some noble MPs and Independent MPs to vote with them.

Lord Ma’afu was a cabinet minister and it is believed he has stayed loyal to Hon. Sika and would help in the negotiations to persuade the nobles to vote for him.

Asked why did not they support Hon. Tu’i’onetoa to block the nobility and royalist MPs from having a greater voice in running the government, Hon.  Tapueluelu said his preference was to stand together with the loyal PTOA members who were familiar with the Party’s vision.

It is understood that eight members of the nobility and the three independent MPs have tried to woo some Democrat  MPs with promises of ministerial positions if they vote for another candidate.

The main points

  • MP for Tongatapu 10 Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa will challenge Deputy Prime Minister Semisi  Sika for the premiership, reliable sources have told Kaniva news.
  • Kaniva news understands that four Democratic MP and cabinet members have defected.

For more information

Squabbling MPs mean Democrats no longer have the numbers warns Minister as royalists and Nobles battle to regain premiership

Squabbling MPs mean Democrats no longer have the numbers warns Minister as royalists and nobles battle to regain premiership

Land Court finds Lands Minister failed to comply with Act in dispute over tax allotment

By
Philip Cass
-

The Land Court has ruled in favour of the plaintiffs in a long running dispute over a tax allotment that has previously involved a dispute between two Nobles and a Chinese quarry company.

Judge Niu’s judgement was based on the Minister for Land’s failure to properly publicise the proposed surrender of the allotment.

In January 2011, Lord Nuku and Paula Kava made an agreement that Paula Kava would surrender his tax allotment at Malapo and that Lord Nuku’s son, Faka’osifono Valevale, would apply to hold it as his tax allotment.

In return Lord Nuku would pay him $130,000 in cash and would have another tax allotment granted to him in the estate of Ha’ateiho.

Lord Nuku would arrange to have Paula Kava’s brother’s town allotment at Tofoa, which was low-lying, filled with coral to an agreed level.

Paula Kava explained that agreement to the first plaintiff and that as he was the heir to his tax allotment, he would not lose out under the agreement because another tax allotment at Ha’ateiho would be granted to him and that the first plaintiff would still be heir to it, as he was to the Malapo allotment.

The first plaintiff agreed to it and signed a letter of Paula Kava to the Minister of Lands that he, Paula Kava, wanted to surrender his said tax allotment at Malapo.

The agreement was made so that Lord Nuku’s son could lease it to a Chinese company which would quarry coral rocks from the allotment for road construction at a rent of $500,000 for 20 years.

Lord Nuku paid the agreed $130,000 to Paula Kava and authorised the Chinese company to commence quarrying on the allotment and it did.

However he failed to have the town allotment of Paula Kava’s brother filled with gravel or secure the grant of the tax allotment at Ha’ateiho to Paula Kava, who asked Lord Nuku that quarrying be stopped until the exchange for his tax allotment was completed.

On 27 June 2011, because nothing had been done by Lord Nuku Paula Kava wrote to the Minister and cancelled his letter of surrender of his tax allotment.

Having been told that the tax allotment at Ha’ateiho was available to be granted, Paula Kava wrote to the Minister to proceed with his surrender of his tax allotment and lodged his application and asked the Minister to process his application for the tax allotment at Ha’ateiho.

Samiuela Kava, who claimed that he was the lawful heir of Paula Kava, was not immediately unaware of this letter or the continuation of the surrender.

Cabinet approved the surrender of the allotment under S. 54 of the Land Act in February 2012.

The Minister signed a notice which called on any person who claimed he was heir to the allotment to lodge his claim in writing with the Minister, failing which it would revert to the estate holder.

Paula Kava was subsequently told he would have to wait a year for the surrender to be complete. After a year he was told the tax allotment at Ha’ateiho that he was applying for, had already been registered in someone else.

He wrote to the Minister of Lands in 2013 asking for advice.

“I am very disappointed and unhappy about the lie and incorrect advice that was given to me,” he said.

“I have already surrendered my allotment and lost it and I have not got another.”

Because of the letter of surrender signed by Paula Kava in 2011, Lord Nuku authorised the Chinese Technical Team company, Yan Jian Group Co. Ltd, to begin quarrying coral rocks from the tax allotment of Paula Kava.

It did not cease to stop quarrying until Lord Luani stopped it in May 2013 when he claimed that the tax allotment of Paula Kava had lawfully reverted to him.

Lord Luani brought an action against Lord Nuku and Yan Jian Group Co. Ltd and another company for the damage caused by the quarrying done to the allotment. The Land Court awarded $5,556,000, damages.

The defendants appealed to the Court of Appeal which upheld the decision of the Land Court, but lowered the amount of damages to $3,380,335.

Samiuela Kava said that the tax allotment had not reverted to the estate holder, Lord Luani, in accordance with the requirements of S. 54 of the Land Act. He claimed the Minister of Lands had failed to comply with the requirements of the Act.

Lord Luani argued that the tax allotment had lawfully reverted to him and that the matter had been litigated and the Court, as well as the Court of Appeal, had held that the tax allotment had lawfully reverted to him, and that he was awarded damages as lawful holder of the allotment.

Judge Niu ruled that the Minister had failed to meet the requirements of the Act in having proper publicity given to the proposed surrender of the allotment.

Only one notice appeared in the press and none in the government gazette.

“Accordingly, as I have already found as a fact, that there was only one publication of the notice, I must hold, and I hold, that the tax allotment of Paula Kava has not reverted to the estate holder Lord Luani at all, and that it would not, until the Minister has published the notice exactly as he is required by to do and if the heir of Paula Kava does not claim it by the specified date in the notice,” Judge Niu said.

“I consider that the Minister must start afresh, that is, that he must issue a fresh notice with a fresh specified date and publish it in the Government Gazette and in three issues of three Tongan newspaper within two months of the date of the fresh notice.

“Upon publication of the first notice, the first plaintiff may then lodge his claim in writing with the Minister as provided in the notice.”

The judge ordered that Lord Luani must immediately give up any right to the tax allotment under dispute.

Costs were awarded against the defendants.

Read more
https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2017/05/lord-nuku-will-keep-title-estate-court-case-says-attorney-general/

Woolf ready to return as Tonga coach after PM intervenes

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Brad Walter NRL.com Senior Reporter

Kristian Woolf is set to be reinstated as Tonga coach for the upcoming Tests against Great Britain and Australia, and possibly the World Cup Nines, after the Prime Minister asked the RLIF to officially recognise a new governing body in the island kingdom.

Tongan Prime Minister Semisi Sika has sent a letter to be considered by the RLIF board on Thursday in which he said the Tonga National Rugby League had “lost the trust and support of its members”, the domestic clubs and international players.

The clubs have registered Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League as their new governing federation, and endorsed the Tonga Sports Council as the interim body responsible for selection, coaching and management of the Test team.

The move follows a trip to Tonga last week by RLIF chairman Nigel Wood, who met with Mr Sika to discuss concerns about the viability of the October 26 Test against Great Britain in Hamilton and November 2 Oceania Cup clash with Australia at Eden Park.

Mate Ma’a Tonga players, led by Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, are now expected to return after refusing to play until TNRL chairman George Koloamatangi and secretary William Edwards stood down.

Woolf, who has been appointed as St Helens coach, is understood to be willing to again take charge of the Tonga team he built into an international powerhouse if the players want him to return.

The TNRL board last month sacked Woolf by email and announced the appointment of former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott for the Tests and ex-Gold Coast mentor Garth Brennan for the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s.

Brennan has since resigned and Endacott has privately indicated he was willing to step aside for Woolf amid concerns about Tonga’s ability to field a competitive team.

Prime Minister Sika said in the letter: “As a result of the actions of its board, TNRL will be unable to field a national team with the best Tongan players”.

It is unclear if Woolf will also take the reins for the World Cup Nines but officials are believed to be keen for him to do so and hope Tonga will field its strongest team at the tournament on October 18 and 19.

With Tonga boasting a large contingent of players from the NRL and Super League who have been loyal to the red jersey since the 2017 World Cup, and earlier in many cases, there is unlikely to be any room for Israel Folau.

The TNRL announced on Monday that Folau and his brother, John, had made themselves available for selection but both have been playing rugby union.

If Woolf returns, he is likely to be spoilt for choice in the outside backs, with Will Hopoate, David Fusitu’a, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Robert Jennings, Kotoni Staggs, Konrad Hurrell, Mahe Fonua and Solomone Kata among those eligible.

Brennan quits as Tonga Nines coach over ‘political’ infighting

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Brad Walter NRL.com Senior Reporter

Brennan’s decision to stand down from the role comes ahead of an RLIF board meeting on Thursday to discuss the internal problems around the Tonga team and a shock bid for Israel Folau to play in the two Tests.

The Tonga National Rugby League announced Brennan as World Cup 9s coach, while giving Kristian Woolf his marching orders over a bitter dispute between the players, led by Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo, and TNRL chairman George Koloamatangi and secretary William Edwards.

However, Brennan believed he would be working with Woolf, who was behind Tonga’s rise at the 2017 World Cup to become an international powerhouse after convincing the likes of Fifita and Taumalolo to choose their nation of heritage over Australia and New Zealand.

“I wasn’t aware that there were all these underlying things going on in the background with the board and all the players when I first agreed to the job,” said Brennan, who recently parted ways with Gold Coast Titans.

“When I found out that there was a bit of a shit fight going on behind the scenes I just felt like I didn’t want to get involved at this point so I withdrew. It was too political for me and I have just come out of a difficult situation at the Gold Coast so it wasn’t something I wanted to get myself into straight away.

Fonua-Blake backs Tonga player boycott

“When I was asked to do it I thought I was doing it as a bit of a favour to Kristian Woolf and I thought it would be a bit of fun and chance to get back involved in footy but when I found out how political it was I just felt that wasn’t the best course for me at this point.”

Woolf’s return would ensure an end to the stand-off that threatens to undo much of the good work behind Tonga’s rise to be the game’s fourth-ranked nation and establishment of regular Tests against the Kangaroos and Kiwis.

Tonga is scheduled to play Great Britain in Hamilton on October 26 and Australia in an Oceania Cup match on November 2 as part of a tripleheader at Eden Park.

Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott has been appointed to replace Woolf as coach for the two Tests but it is understood that he would be prepared to walk away for the good of the game if he believed his resignation was going to help resolve the dispute.

Try of the year nominees

Endacott is also understood to be concerned about the strength of the team at his disposal, with Folau and his brother John so far the only players to publicly declare their availability for the Tests.

However, the RLIF is yet to approve Folau after directors, including ARLC chairman Peter Beattie ad NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, were taken by surprise when the TNRL issued a press release on Monday declaring the brothers would return to league with Mate Ma’a Tonga.

Fifita, Taumalolo, Will Hopoate and Sio Siua Taukeiaho have said they will not play while Koloamatangi and Edwards remain on the TNRL board.

Squabbling MPs mean Democrats no longer have the numbers warns Minister as royalists and nobles battle to regain premiership

By
Kalino Latu
-

With one day to go before the campaign for the premiership election closes, one fact is becoming clear – the next Prime Minister for Tonga may not be the man the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva wanted.

Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu told Kaniva news this afternoon the Democrats did not currently have the numbers.

He blamed infighting among Democrats for the situation.

The Democrats are split, with some PTOA members not wanting Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika to become the next Prime Minister..

There are fears the PTOA will not be able to win the premiership election as it did when they successfully voted for late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in 2015.

“The simple fact is we no longer have the majority as we speak,” the Minister of Police Hon Tapueluelu told Kaniva news this afternoon.

“There is a huge squabble for power within PTOA based on the few who challenged ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s own pick for PM,” Hon. Tapueluelu said.

Hon. Tapueluelu said it was the wish of late Prime Minister and Democratic campaigner Hon Pōhiva before he died for the PTOA MPs and cabinet ministers to support Hon. Sika to become the next new Prime Minister.

“Tonga should pray that opportunists are kept away from power,” the Police Minister said.

It is understood, the nine members of the nobility, excluding Lord Fusitu’a, as he was sick in Auckland, together with the three independent MPs, have mounted a strong campaign to woo some non-Cabinet PTOA MPs with promises of ministerial positions if they vote for another candidate.

The nobles and their allies have also been wooing some Cabinet Ministers with promises of supporting them to become Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Only 13 MPs need to vote for a candidate to make him or her Prime Minister.

The nobles and royalist independent MPs won the premiership election in 2010 after they voted for Lord Tu’ivakanō, despite the fact there were more people’s MPs in the House than the nobility.

Five PTOA party MPs who were non-Cabinet ministers were outgoing MP Akosita Lavulavu, MP Veivosa Taka, VP Vatau Hui and MP Mo’ale Fīnau.

We say

Kaniva news believes the late PM Pōhiva was the only person who had the skill to unite the party members in the last premiership election and during the offensive snap election campaigns after the king dissolved parliament in 2017.

It is apparent that that capability is absent from many of the key party members.

However, the Democrat MPs should work urgently to resolve any differences so they can elect a Prime Minister who will honour the wish of the late Hon. Pōhiva and the majority of the democrats in Tonga.

There is no need to give the royalists an opportunity to run the government because it could hinder or reverse the great democratic reform process that have been underway since 2010.

The then king, the late George V, wanted the people to run the government.

King George relinquished his executive power, laying a stepping stone for the people’s battle to bring democracy to Tonga’s political system. His Majesty wanted a commoner to become the first Prime Minister in 2010.

But this did not happen because the majority of Parliament eventually chose a noble to become the prime minister.

New Zealand scholar Christine Bogle said in her doctoral thesis Democratisation in Asia-Pacific monarchies that the king was disappointed when a noble was elected in 2010, rather than a commoner.

The late king’s vision for a fully democratized executive government for Tonga was hindered by some constitutional issues that could have been – and could still be – easily fixed.

This included the constitutional clause which allows members of the nobility to run for the premiership when they were only elected to parliament by their 33 colleagues and not the people.

This clause of the constitution remains a threat to the hopes of the democrats who have represented the majority of Tongan voters who supported the democratic reforms. .

Although the majority of the House is dominated by the 17 people’s MPs, while the Nobles only have nine seat, there was no guarantee that all 17 people’s representatives elected to Parliament will all be Democrats.

Some of them were royalists and this means the nobility, despite their minority standing in the House, will always look for these royal supporters to make up their numbers so they can outvote the Democrats in the election of the Prime Minister.

This system is unfair and needs to be changed.

These problems could be resolved by changing the constitution to disallow the nobility from running for premiership because they were not elected by the people.

Legalising the party system in Tonga would mean voters would understand where party members stand and what policies they support before they go to the polls. This would allow supporters on both sides to know which party to support.

Such a change to the constitution would also give the party the power to make sure their members were loyal to their charter, policies and guideline. It would also provide a framework in which a member of party could be removed immediately if they breached their charter or crossed the floor.

Light sentence for father who molested daughter and granddaughter because he was remorseful

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongatapu father  received a 5-year sentence after he committed incest with his daughter and granddaughter in 2005 and 2018.

Tapakautolo ‘Epenisa, 66, was sentenced to four years and six months for raping the girls. 

As he handed down the lenient sentence, Acting Chief Justice Charles Cato cited the father’s early guilty plea, show of real remorse and he was a first time offender.

He pleaded guilty after he was charged with counts of incest, serious indecent assault and one count of domestic violence. 

On the count of incest by a male person, the accused is sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment. 

On the count of serious indecent assault, the accused is sentenced to one year and nine month imprisonment. Six months of which is to be served concurrently upon the sentence of four and a half years, making a total of five years imprisonment to be backdated to the date of his remand in custody. 

The final two years of his combined sentence is suspended on the following conditions. 

a). The accused is not to commit any offences punishable by imprisonment for the period of suspension. 

b). The accused is placed on probation for the period of his suspension to live when directed. 

c). The accused is not to drink alcohol during the period of his suspension. 

d). The accused is not to reside in any location where girls, or young women under the age of 18 resides,

e). The accused is to attend at the direction of Probation a curse on sexual abuse of girls or young woman. 

f). The accused is not to initiate any contact with either of the complainants but may only have contact with them if they initiate the contact. 

On the count of domestic violence, the accused is sentenced to eight months imprisonment to be served concurrently with count one and two.

Attorney General warns after false reports that Minister of Police placed under house arrest

By
Kalino Latu
-

Allegations being circulated on social media which claimed the Minister of Police Mateni Tapueluelu was put under house arrest were false and baseless, the Attorney General’s Office said this afternoon. 

The Attorney General has appealed to the public to be considerate when posting information on social media. 

Kaniva news understands the allegations were posted to anti-government Facebook pages and shared by their members and some concerned online users. 

A statement from the Attorney General Office read: “The Attorney General’s Office wishes to express its serious concerns regarding information that is currently circulating on Social Media since last weekend claiming that the Honourable Minister of Police, Fire & Emergency Services, Revenue & Customs, Mateni Tapueluelu is “under house arrest”. 

“The Attorney General’s Office wishes to advise the public that these information and stories circulating on Social Media are not factual and without foundation. Members of the public are requested to demonstrate restraint and responsibility while posting on Social Media.”

The warning from the Office came after the government set up a panel to investigate what had been described as “violent attacks” on the royal family that were carried on Facebook last month.

The Attorney General said last month police were considering laying treason charges against the people responsible.

“There’s a couple of accounts with Tongan names that have actually shown pictures and comments which may amount to defamation or sedition or treason,” she said, adding that the prime minister and government had also been targeted by some Facebook pages.

The government announced it was considering banning Facebook in the kingdom.


Parliamentary staffer and aunt appear in court after allegations of assault, attempted wounding

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A parliamentary staffer and his maternal aunt have appeared in court following allegations of assault, beating, damaging and intent to commit grievous bodily harm. .

Mapa Hā’ano Taumālolo and his aunt Sēini ‘Unga have each lodged complaints against each other following an incident earlier this year, the Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

The paper’s report did not say what charges police have laid against the accused.

It said Taumālolo accused ‘Unga of trying to allegedly run him over with her vehicle.

It also said ‘Unga accused Taumālolo of allegedly punching her in her eye and damaging her vehicle.

The trial has been postponed until November after prosecutor said some key witnesses were unavailable.

Election for new PM “a cart before the horse,” “undemocratic” and “unjust” says professor

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scholars and legal experts have criticised the constitution and said the election of a Prime Minister without holding a by-election to elect a Tongatapu 1 constituency MP first was wrong.

They have described the incident as undemocratic, unjust, uneducational, illegal and immoral.

Parliament said in a statement on Friday that the decision by the Speaker of Parliament to hold the election of the new Prime Minister was made according to the constitution.

No official announcement has been released about a by-election.

The late Prime Minister and MP for Tongatapu 1 Hon.‘Akilisi Pōhiva died on September 12.

Professor Siosiua Pouvalu of the Lo’au University disagreed with Parliament’s statement and said the matter should be reviewed as the by-election and election of a new Prime Minister could be held at the same time within the timeline given by the constitution to process the election of a Prime Minister.

In Tongan he said: “In a clearer rewording, the horse should be put before the cart. The by-election should come before the election of the new Prime Minister so that the election would be considered clean after Tongatapu 1 join it. And then it would be considered democratic, legal, educational and moral.”

A post on a Facebook page under the name My Views and Opinions – A public law lens, has called on Tongatapu 1 constituents to ask for their rights and take legal action against the Parliament.

The post claimed the Speaker appeared to have wrongly applied the clauses for an election of a new Prime Minister.

“Apply the law correctly. Interpretation of the Constitution Requires the Speaker of the House to examine the Construction of it in its context,” the post said.

The press release from parliament on Friday also said: “The Constitution of Tonga requires the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to invite nominations of candidates for the Prime Minister Designate and to conduct the meeting to elect the same, in accordance with procedures and timelines expressly provided in the Constitution.”

The statement also said: “Today, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, issued invitations to all elected Representatives of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, calling for submission of nominations of an elected Representative to the Legislative Assembly as a candidate for Prime Minister Designate.”

Constitution

What does the constitution say about the election of the Prime Minister and a by-election?

Clause 50A says: “The King shall appoint from amongst the elected representatives a Prime Minister who is recommended by the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the procedure set out in the Schedule to, or clause 50B of, this Constitution. (2) The Prime Minister shall hold office until – (a) another Prime Minister is appointed in accordance with this Constitution; Clause 50B (b) his appointment is revoked under clause 50B; (c) he dies, resigns, or his appointment is revoked after he ceases to be an elected representative for any reason other than the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly; or (d) he becomes ineligible to hold the office in accordance with this Constitution or any other law. (3) The Prime Minister shall regularly and as required report to the King upon matters that have arisen with the government and upon the state of the country.”

By-election

Clause 76 says: “Upon the death or resignation of any representative of the nobles or of the people and when a member is deprived of his seat after impeachment, the Speaker shall immediately command that the nobles or the electors of the district which he represented shall elect a representative in his place. But the Legislative Assembly shall have the power to sit and act although its number be not complete.”

According to the Legislative law section 6, the Commission in consultation with the Speaker of the House set the time and place for the election.

Tonga’s Nasi Manu to make comeback off bench in RWC opener

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand Pacific

Inspirational number eight Nasi Manu is set to make his international comeback after being named on the Tongan bench for their opening Rugby World Cup match against England.

The Benetton Treviso player has been named on the bench for his long-awaited return to the test arena in Sapporo on Sunday.

The former Highlanders loose forward missed the entire 2018 season as he underwent treatment for testicular cancer.

Manu was named Tonga’s captain for the Pacific Nations Cup earlier this year but, after suffering a pectoral injury, he had to withdraw from the campaign.

“After the PNC, when I was so close to playing, the feeling of being here you have no idea how proud I am to be here,” he said.

“I was actually quite emotional sitting there in the chair when I received a [RWC 2019] cap – it really made it sink in that I’m actually at the World Cup.”

The 31 year old Manu said after a gym injury ruined his international return two months ago he was taking no chances to ensure he makes it onto the field.

“I just have to trust my process. I’ve done all the hard work, it’s just about maintaining to hope I’m at a low risk of not getting injured again.”

Manu will cover the loose forwards from the bench with coach Toutai Kefu preferring to selected the experienced and powerful Sione Kalamafoni and Maama Vaipulu at six and eight respectively. Rookie international Zane Kapeli completes the starting trio.

First choice hooker Paula Ngauamo is out injured, leaving Sosefo Sakalia to start and allowing Christchurch roofer Siua Malie to start.

The latter made his first class debut in the ‘Ikale Tahi’s 92-7 loss to the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The backline will be led by veteran first-five Kurt Morath and skipper Siale Piutau, who moves to outside centre to make way for Cooper Vuna.

England coach Eddie Jones has made two changes from the side that thrashed Ireland 57-15 last month.

Courtney Lawes replaces George Kruis at lock and Anthony Watson takes the place of Fiji-born wing Joe Cokanasiga.

TONGA:

David Halaifonua, Atieli Pakalani, Siale Piutau (capt), Cooper Vuna, Viliami Lolohea, Kurt Morath, Sonatane Takulua, Maama Vaipulu, Zane Kapeli, Sione Kalamafoni, Leva Fifita, Sam Lousi, Ben Tameifuna, Sosefo Sakalia, Siegfried Fisiihoi.

Reserves: Siua Maile, Latu Talakai, Ma’afu Fia, Dan Faleafa, Nasi Manu, Leon Fukofuka, James Faiva, Nafi Tu’itavake.

ENGLAND:

Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Billy Vunipola, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler.

Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph.


1...487488489...958Page 488 of 958