10 May 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Pacific Islander Rugby Alliance (PIRA) to Meet in Tonga

PIRA Board will meet in Tonga on Wednesday 12 May to finalize the schedule of the Islanders Team for July. Flying in for the meeting will be PIRA Chairman, Peter Shuster from Samoa, PIRA CEO, Charlie Charters, Fiji Rep Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, and Islanders Coach-Wayne Pivac. Joining in Tonga will be TRFU Chairman, Hon. Tuivanuavou Vaea and TRFU CEO, Sakopo Lolohea.

The Board meeting will discuss the schedule games, camp, revenue projection, selection, officials, eligibility, sponsorship and a notional anthem for the Islanders Team.

Tonga and Samoa will also ask to include in the agenda the Pacific Trinations ‘A’ Series commitment from Fiji who withdrew last minute from the Series last week.

The IRB last week cleared the eligibility issue for the Islanders Team will provide potential players to be recruited such as Sione Lauaki and Tane Tuipulotu. However, the issue will be discussed further in the PIRA meeting and its ramification for the Islanders.

The meeting will also discussed the South African game on the 17th July in Australia which could be held in either Gosford or Brisbane.

Eligibility Conference, Samoa end of May

Samoa will host a FORU conference on the IRB Eligibility issue on the 28th May in Apia. The conference aims to address the eligibility issue and how it affects the Pacific Islander players in FORU members countries especially in New Zealand and Australia for the future development of rugby in the islandes.

The meeting is expecting the Chairman of NZRFU and the ARU to attend as well as the Chairman of IRB along with top officials from FORU member countries.

Taumalolo First to Arrive

The Ikale Tahi squad went into camp on Saturday 8th May in preparation for the Pacific Trinations later this month. Joining the camp from the Harlequins Club, London is Siua Taumalolo who was the first to release by his club to join the Ikale Tahi.

Siua is the current 1st 5/8 for the Harlequins Club and has played in the European Cup throughout the year. He moved from Wales to London after recovering from a knee injury last year which kept him out of contention for the RWC Tonga squad.

Other players are expected this week includes David Palu from New Zealand, and from the UK Aisea Havili, Tevita Taumoepeau, Chris Halafihi and Keni Fisilau. Aleki Lutui and Felise Taufa’ao will join the Ikale Tahi after the Super 12 Semifinal if the Chiefs fail to make it to the Final.

Finau Maka and Viliami Vaki has declared themselves unavailable because of the Italian and French Clubs commitment. Players unavailable because of injuries are Viliami Ma’asi and ‘Epeli Taione.

Twenty four players will be named in two weeks time to travel to Samoa for the first Pacific Trinations game on the 29th May in Apia before returning to Tonga for the match against Fiji on the 5th June.

The Ikale Tahi squad is based at the Fakatouato Hall, Ngele’ia.

19 Referees and 13 Coaches Received IRB Certificates

The Chairman of the TRFU Board Hon. Tu’ivanuavou Vaea presented 19 Level 2 IRB Referee Certificates and 13 Level 1 IRB Coaches Certificates to participants from Tongatapu, Haapai, Vavau and Eua last Friday night during a reception for the Samoa A tour of Tonga.

The Level 2 Referee certificates is a milestone for Tonga in Referee Development. In presenting the certificates the Chairman and IRB Trainer, Greg Davy emphasizes the huge responsibility that places on referees in today’s professional and amateur environment. The rugby game today depends on all participants – players, coaches and referees.

The 13 coaches received IRB Level 1 certificates will form a working committee Chaired by Otenili Tuipulotu to explore the formation of a Tonga Rugby Coaching Association to address the needs of all Coaches and to recruit coaches so that they deliver the right rugby development program and techniques to all age grade.

A National Coaching Association is expected to be formed next month.

TRFU CEO Sakopo Lolohea said the achievements made by the Tonga Rugby Referee Association and the Coaches is part of the Union ongoing long term development program for rugby. This is the first time that 13 local coaches received an IRB Level 1 Coaching certificates and 19 Level 2 Referee Certificates.