Assistant coach Nili Latu has revealed that former All Blacks star Ngani Laumape has made himself available to Tonga ahead of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup in August and September.
Defending champions South Africa saw off Tonga 49-18 to pick up a bonus-point win in Marseille which moved them temporarily top of Rugby World Cup Pool B.
Ireland continue their Rugby World Cup campaign on Saturday evening by taking on Tonga in Nantes.
Former All Blacks quartet Vaea Fifita, Augustine Pulu, Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Salesi Piutau are all set to start for Tonga on Saturday against Ireland in Nantes.
Remarkably that is the incredible sequence of events which led 23-year-old fly half Pat Pellegrini on a rugby odyssey which may well end up with him playing in a Tonga shirt alongside modern greats Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa at France 2023.
Tonga captain Nili Latu says he is expecting “big things” from the ‘Ikale Tahi at Rugby World Cup 2023.
Tonga boss Toutai Kefu has named a star-studded 35-man squad for his team’s July fixtures in the run-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, a selection that includes former Wallabies lock Adam Coleman.
For Piutau, who lost eligibility for the All Blacks when he took up a deal with Premiership side Wasps in 2015, will be able to represent Tonga and attend the first World Cup of his career.
Tonga's all-star trio have all been excluded by the 'Ikale Tahi for the second match running as the Pacific Nations Cup comes to an end.
Controversial former Wallabies star Israel Folau is primed to make his long-awaited return to test rugby when Tonga open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign this weekend.