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Tonga Rugby Union announce new chief executive as five-year blueprint unveiled

(Photo by Steve Bardens - World Rugby via Getty Images/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The Tongan Rugby Union have announced a new chief executive as part of the union’s plans to improve governance and administrative leadership in the coming years.

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TRU president Siaosi Pohiva last week confirmed the appointment of Peter Harding, who takes over from vice president Fe’ao Vunipola.

Confirmation of Harding – who has previously held the roles of Tongan general manager and high performance manager between 2012 and 2016 – as the new chief executive comes four months after a tripartite agreement was signed between the TRU, World Rugby and the Tongan government.

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According to RNZ, the agreement – which was signed off by Pohiva on behalf of the TRU, Tongan government representative Poasi Tei and World Rugby’s David Carrigy – was put in place to help build a sustainable future off the field for Tongan rugby.

“We agreed this agreement outlines the objectives, high level requirements and performances measures for the Tonga high performance programme and the responsibilities for all parties during the 2020-2024 period,” Pohiva said, as per RNZ.

RNZ also reports there was a belief upon the signing of the agreement that World Rugby would provide “strategic input, administration leadership and governance” once a new chief executive had been found.

In doing so, it is hoped that Tonga’s potential within international rugby will be maximised within the coming years.

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In addition to working for the TRU in the past, Harding has also been strength and conditioning coach for Clermont, Toyota Verblitz and the Wallabies, a director of physical performances at London Irish, and, most recently, a high performance consultant for World Rugby.

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J
JW 1 hour 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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