31st May, 2017 Tonga is hosting the Oceania Rugby Union meeting here in Nuku’alofa this week.
Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva this morning opened the meeting at the Tanoa Dateline International Hotel and urged representatives of regional unions and delegates to use the event to find ways to better the game of rugby in the region.
PM Pohiva told the meeting at the opening ceremony that rugby has grown immensely throughout the world.
He added that the region has contributed so much by way of players, with most Pacific Islanders or players with blood ties to the region having played or currently playing for the All Blacks, Wales, England, France, Italy and the Wallabies.
“Rugby in the Pacific brings our people together. It is tied to our national identity,” PM Pohiva said.
“Rugby is the pride of our people, it’s a national sport, it’s a livelihood.”
The Oceania meeting includes a workshop that is currently being held at the Tanoa Dateline Hotel.
Oceania Rugby General Manager Bruce Cook told the media in a press conference that the meeting here in Tonga will also include the annual general meeting and Board elections.
He said rugby is a growing game and the region has continued to see interest growing across the different countries.
A highlight of the current meeting is the Tonga Women’s Rugby’s participation – the first time women’s rugby in Tonga to be represented at the Oceania meeting.
Meanwhile, Tonga will host both Manu Samoa and the Flying Fijians here in Nuku’alofa on July.
The two Test matches will serve as qualifiers for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Tonga will host Manu Samoa at Te’ufaiva Park on July 1 and then the Flying Fijians on July 8.
Fiji and Manu Samoa will complete the series in the final Test at Apia Park on July 15.
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ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communications & Climate Change
