Tonga play their home games in kit comprising red shirts, with white shorts and red socks. The shirt although featuring at most Rugby world Cups has yet to be worn past the first rounds. It has been pulled on by a couple of huge men in the game Epeli Taione and Lesley Vainikolo, although like the other Pacific islands the very best players tend to end up playing for the All Blacks.
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi or in English the Sea Eagles. They played their first international match against local rivals Fiji, in 1924 winning 9-6. Tonga play their home games in the Capital City Nuku'alofa. Tonga is a tier 2 nation and has been represented at every Rugby World Cup except in 1991 when they failed to qualify. Like their near neighbours Fiji, Samoa and new Zealand they start their matches with a war dance the Sipi Tau.
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