Timani among 10 new caps for Tonga’s tour

Former Wallabies loose forward Lopeti Timani is among 10 new caps in the Tonga rugby squad for the upcoming tour of the Northern Hemisphere.

Forty players based in 10 countries have been selected for the upcoming matches against Scotland, England, the French Barbarians and Romania, including 22 based in France, although Tonga Rugby Union CEO Peter Harding says not all players will be available for every game.

The other new faces up front include former Hurricanes prop Loni Uhila, who is now with Hyères-Carqueiranne in the French third tier, former Australian schoolboys hooker Maile Ngauamo, Northland lock Setefano Funaki, and Grenoble utility forward Tanginoa Halaifonua.

In the backs, former Melbourne Rebels squad member Navarre Haisila, Bourg-enBresse winger Latu Latunipulu, Perpignan midfielder Afusipa Taumoepeau, Pau centre Vaea Vaea and Stade Francais flyer Atunaisa Manu are all poised to make their test debut.

The bulk of the squad is based in Europe, with Covid-19 travel restrictions making it difficult to include players from Australia and New Zealand.

Peter Harding said ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu and manager Lano Fonua “have done a great job putting this squad together” under difficult circumstances.

“In addition, the Scotland game is outside the international rugby regulation nine release window. This has taken some negotiation with clubs, undertaken by Toutai and Lano and this has to this date been successful,” he said.

“Clubs have been good to deal with and I want to thank the French Rugby Federation for their assistance.”

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu was fully involved in the selection of the touring squad but will not travel to Europe with the team, as he continues his recovery from a violent home invasion in August.