Tonga need new ‘heroes in red’ to fight back against league’s rise
Captain Siale Piutau faces England worried for the code’s future, he tells Dan Schofield
In light of their recent 92-7 pulverising by New Zealand, it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which Tonga could run England close in the opening World Cup match on Sunday. It is harder still to picture the Ikale Tahi beating the All Blacks in the tournament and reaching the semi-finals alongside Fiji.
Yet this is exactly what transpired in the Rugby League World Cup two years ago, when Tonga only just lost 20-18 to England in the last four. It is a reminder of just what the Pacific Island nations are capable of producing on a more even playing field. A key difference is that league eligibility rules allow players not selected for the tier-one countries to represent developing countries. The Tongan team who stunned New Zealand 28-22 in 2017 included Jason Taumalolo and Manu Vatuvei, both of whom have represented the Kiwis.
That victory had far-reaching consequences. League has since exploded in popularity in Tonga at the direct expense of union. Children who used to aspire to representing the Ikale Tahi have a new set of heroes. While Siale Piutau, Tonga’s union captain, was delighted at the league team’s success, he is now deeply concerned about the future of union on the islands. Piutau even discovered that members of his own family have switched codes. With a playing base of around 1,000 players – England have two million – a long-term drop in numbers would be catastrophic.
“Being back in the home country, there has been a massive shift in terms of support going away from us towards rugby league,” Piutau, the Bristol centre, told The Daily Telegraph. “You are seeing it in schools and even in New Zealand a lot of second-generation Tongan kids are now registering for rugby league clubs. About four years ago they were struggling for numbers. I think they were getting 100 kids turning up. Since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup they are getting 500 and they are turning away kids.
“You see the impact it has when you allow top players to play for their country. We just hope that it will be our boys in union who will be allowed to pull on the red shirt in the future.”
In union, once you make your international debut, you are tied to that country. The only way to break that bond is to appear in an Olympic sevens qualifying tournament, as Cooper Vuna has done so for Tonga. Other capped Tongans including Siale’s brother, Bristol full-back Charles Piutau, who last played for New Zealand in 2015, are trapped in limbo; unwanted by their adopted nations but unavailable to the Ikale Tahi.
“Charles is gutted to be at home,” Piutau said. “It is really frustrating that a lot of these players could be playing for Tonga. The only way we can inspire those kids to come back to union is to have the best Tongan players around the world being available for us. It just creates hype around the team and the young kids get to see their heroes in red. But right now we just have to make the best of who we have.”
That cast list includes dangerous outside backs Vuna and Telusa Veainu, loose forwards Steve Mafi and Sione Kalamafoni and scrumhalf Sonatane Takulua, whom all have Premiership experience.
While England’s players stand to make almost £200,000 each if they win the World Cup, Tonga’s players will receive £800 a week, an allowance that has remained static for the past eight years. Many will end the tournament out of pocket, with club sides deducting wages while they are absent. There