Tonga

The San Diego Legion have signed Tongan flanker Tupou Afungia for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. He arrives from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, where has was on the extended roster for the National Provincial Championship though he did not make any regular season appearances. Afungia plays his club …

Tonga defeated Chile 32-10 in Bucharest on Saturday. The physicality of the Ikale Tahi proved too much for Los Cóndores, who struggled to find gaps in a staunch Tongan defense. A long-range penalty goal from Otumaka Mausia put the Tongans on the board first after six minutes. Chile would then …

New England have added Tongan international Semisi Paea to their roster for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 23-year-old lock or blindside flanker arrives from Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. Paea broke into the Steamers side during the 2021 NPC season, having earlier that year made his test …

Two Rugby World Cup 2023 competitors will battle it out at a neutral venue on Saturday. Bucharest, Romania will be the setting for Tonga vs Chile. The match is rare; the teams only prior meeting was back in 2010. In what was nearly a major upset, Tonga won 32-30. A …

Esteban Meneses will have nearly a full-strength roster for Uruguay’s European tour. The 30-man Teros squad features five players based in France and another in Major League Rugby. Tighthead prop Reinaldo Piussi and versatile back Juan Zuccarino are the only uncapped inclusions. Piussi, who was previously in the Oyonnax academy, …

The New England Free Jacks have signed outside back Taniela Filimone for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Born and raised in Tonga, he represented his country at the World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament in 2019 and in a non-capped sevens tournament in 2021. Filimone was also a nationally-ranked track …

Los Cóndores November Internationals are now confirmed. Chile have scheduled a three match European tour for November. The matches will see the South Americans playing two test matches on the European continent and one match against a United Rugby Championship (URC) in Ireland. Chile will play matches on Saturday November …

The Utah Warriors have added more muscle to their forward pack with the addition of Tongan international Onehunga Havili. Though most often employed as a ball carrying No8, the 6’5″ (1.95m) specimen is also comfortable at lock or blindside flanker. Havili, 26, moved to New Zealand as a teenager but …

One of Utah’s originals has signed on for a sixth Major League Rugby season. Saia Uhila has put pen to paper for the Warriors for the 2023 campaign. He follows the re-signing of fellow club stalwart Lance Williams, the acquisition of second row Jonah Dietenberger, and addition of flyhalf Joel …

The tide has turned; North America now feels the effects of a global imbalance in World Cup qualifying. Chile and Uruguay both qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 ahead of North American opposition. This is a fundamental change. It follows repeated cycles wherein Sudamérica Rugby requested changes in the qualifying system …