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Report: Tonga debutant sensationally axed on eve of All Blacks test

(Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Tonga have reportedly dropped one of their 13 debutants from their side a day out from their test match against the All Blacks amid an eligibility row.

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According to Stuff, former New Zealand U20 tighthead prop Tau Koloamatangi has been axed from the ‘Ikale Tahi bench after it was revealed he is ineligible to play for Tonga.

Koloamatangi was named in the No. 18 jersey for this weekend’s clash in what would have been his first test cap for Tonga, but Stuff reports the 26-year-old has been deemed ineligible by World Rugby after he played one match for Hong Kong in 2019.

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Quinn Tupaea named to start for the All Blacks and partners Rieko Ioane in the midfield

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Quinn Tupaea named to start for the All Blacks and partners Rieko Ioane in the midfield

After rising through the ranks in New Zealand, where he was part of the country’s world championship-winning U20 side in 2015, Koloamatangi, a former Waikato representative, relocated to Hong Kong in late 2016.

There, he turned out for Valley in the Hong Kong Premiership and the South China Tigers in the now-defunct Global Rapid Rugby.

Three years after his move, Koloamatangi was called into the Hong Kong national side for their 2019 end-of-year tour of Europe.

It was on that tour where Koloamatangi started for Hong Kong in their 36-17 win over Belgium in Brussels, which, under World Rugby laws, makes him ineligible to play for Tonga.

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However, Tongan officials believe Koloamatangi might have been wrongly capped by Hong Kong as he may not have observed the residency requirement of three years.

It’s for that reason that ‘Ikale Tahi team manager Lano Fonua is “pretty confident” Koloamatangi will get clearance to play for the Pacific Island nation in the future.

“He couldn’t get a clearance from World Rugby,” Fonua told Stuff. “That’s being worked through at the moment, but we couldn’t get it in time.

“It’s a case of whether he was actually available to play for Hong Kong in the first place. We’ll see what happens. We’re pretty confident he will play for Tonga, and that capping by Hong Kong was not legal.”

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Stuff reports Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie is aware of the situation and is working alongside the Tongan Rugby Union and World Rugby to resolve the issue, although clarification around Koloamatangi’s residency period in Hong Kong remains unclear.

 

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It is also unknown whether Koloamatangi will be available to play in Tonga’s following two matches against Manu Samoa, which act as World Cup qualifying fixtures.

The revelation is the latest of many hurdles Tonga have had to overcome in the lead-up to their match against the All Blacks, as COVID-19 travel restrictions have severely limited the number of frontline players available for this match.

Subsequently, ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu has been forced to name 13 debutants, including Koloamatangi, for this weekend’s test, many of whom are New Zealand-based and have spent this year playing club rugby at grassroots level.

There are some seasoned professionals within Tonga’s ranks – such as captain and Toulon halfback Sonatane Takulua, Canon Eagles wing Hosea Saumaki and Chiefs flanker Zane Kapeli – but there is no hiding Tonga are seriously under-strength.

Bordeaux tighthead prop Ben Tameifuna is another headline name in the Tongan squad, but he is unable to fill the void left by Koloamatangi as he is reportedly still in managed isolation upon his arrival in New Zealand from France.

Instead, ‘Ikale Tahi have called former Blues prop Lua Li, who now plays in Major League Rugby for the San Diego Legion, onto the bench, according to Stuff.

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J
JW 41 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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