Historic Tonga Schoolboys tour to create NRL pathway

Tonga officials are hoping the first schoolboys tour to Australia will establish a pathway for players from the Pacific nation to follow the likes of Eliesa Katoa and Konrad Hurrell to the NRL and NRLW.

With support from the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, as well as NRL Pacific and the Asia-Pacific Rugby League, a 20-strong Tonga U16s schoolboys team has travelled to Sydney for matches against NRL clubs.

The team will play Manly U16s development squad at Narrabeen on Wednesday, July 28 and Wests Tigers at St Gregory’s College on Tuesday, July 4, with officials hoping some of the players will attract the interest of talent scouts.

“Hopefully some recruitment managers from NRL clubs will come and see these kids, and with their connections with high schools and colleges they may be able to offer them an opportunity to showcase their talents further,” said Tavake Fangupo, NRL game development manager - Tonga.

“It would be life changing for these kids and their families. Tonga only has a population of 100,000 but what Jason Taumalolo and the team have done since 2017 has really set the standard that every kid would love to play for Tonga.

“It is the first time we have been able to do this and if we can get a couple of scholarships for kids from this tour then it will be a great outcome for our program.

“It is something we would like to strengthen every year and hopefully have Tonga U16s go to Australia and play different NRL teams.”

Inspired by Tonga’s rise on the international stage under the leadership of Taumalolo and coach Kristian Woolf, the nation now has 10 high schools playing in league U14s, U16s and U18s competitions for boys and girls.

It is hoped a Tonga schoolgirls team will also tour next year as the game grows in popularity.

“This year was the first time in Tonga we have had girls play rugby league and there are some talented young girls who can tackle, run and pass just as good as the boys,” Fangupo said.

"With the NRLW becoming professional there are a lot more pathways for the girls so hopefully next year we can give the same opportunity to the girls as these boys are getting to go to Australia and showcase their talents.”

Penrith Brothers have played a key role in helping to organise the tour and host the Tonga team, who visited Sea Eagles training at Narrabeen on Tuesday.

They also attended last Sunday’s Rabbitohs-Cowboys match at Accor Stadium and met Tongan stars such as South Sydney prop Junior Tatola and North Queensland second-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

“There is so much raw talent in the Pacific islands but getting the opportunity to go overseas is so hard for these kids, so this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of them,” Fangupo said.

“The best examples would be Konrad Hurrell, Solomone Kata, Eliesa Katoa and Taniela Otukolo, who have gone from Tonga to New Zealand on rugby union scholarships and the Warriors picked them up.

“The rest is history and they are now heroes of rugby league in Tonga because they were recognised and given an opportunity so we are excited because we think there is some real talent in this squad.”