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.
A 14-man Tonga side secured a 28-3 rugby victory over Canada, despite losing George Moala to a red card for a dangerous tackle.
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.
England boss Eddie Jones has paid quite a compliment to Tonga ahead of this Saturday's Autumn Nations Series match at Twickenham.
Tonga were overrun 60-14 by Scotland but as that game fell outside the release window, they were unable to pick their most established names.
Three weeks has been the usual length of ban given to players attending World Cup disciplinary hearings but Tonga hooker Paula Ngauamo has been punished more severely for his act of foul play.
As it currently stands, Tongan captain Siale Piatua will play his final Test match on Sunday in Osaka when Tonga go to war with the USA. A familial connection could lead to him potentially donning the red jersey in the future, however.
Three-test loose forward Nasi Manu has completed a remarkable comeback from testicular cancer to be named in Tonga's 31-man World Cup squad.
Much is expected from Fiji at the World Cup in Japan and they gave their morale a boost with a derby win over Tonga, their Pacific Island neighbours, at Eden Park.
Coach Toutai Kefu has revamped his Tongan side to take on Japan in the second round of the Pacific Nations Cup, which sees the return of regular captain Siale Piutau.
