Tonga at the Rugby World Cup
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The Tonga national rugby union team has played in all Rugby World Cup tournaments, except in 1991, when they did not qualify. Their best performances were in the 2007 and 2011 tournaments, when they won two matches. Their best single match win was an upset victory in 2011 over eventual finalists France.
| Nation | Number of appearances | First appearance | Most recent appearance | Streak | Best result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tonga | 9 | 1987 | 2023 | 8 | Two wins (2007, 2011) |
| Rugby World Cup record | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | Head coach | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | |
  1987 |
Pool stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 98 | Squad | V. Tuku'aho | Invited | |||||||
     1991 |
Did not qualify | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 64 | 62 | |||||||||
 1995 |
Pool stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 90 | Squad | F. Valu | P/O | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 26 | |
| 1999 |
Pool stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 171 | Squad | P. Tu'ihalamaka | P/O | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 317 | 241 | |
| 2003 |
Pool stage | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 178 | Squad | J. Love | P/O | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 398 | 178 | |
| 2007 |
Pool stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 96 | Squad | Q. Fielea | P/O | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 329 | 136 | |
| 2011 |
Pool stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 98 | Squad | I. Maka | Automatically qualified | |||||||
| 2015 |
Pool stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 130 | Squad | M. Otai | ||||||||
 2019 |
Pool stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 67 | 105 | Squad | T. Kefu | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 68 | 93 | |
| 2023 |
Pool stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 177 | Squad | P/O | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 126 | 111 | ||
| 2027 |
To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
 2031 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | — | 33 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 568 | 1143 | — | — | — | 35 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 1336 | 847 | |
| |||||||||||||||||
By match
1987 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 1987 Rugby World Cup
Pool 2 games -
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 31 | +51 | 13 | 6 | Knockout stage |
| Ireland |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 41 | +43 | 11 | 4 | |
 Canada |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 65 | 90 | −25 | 8 | 2 | |
| Tonga |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 98 | −69 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 May 1987 |
| Canada | 37–4 | Tonga |
| Try: Palmer (2) Vaesen (2) Stuart Frame Penalty try Con: Wyatt (2) Gareth Rees Pen: Rees | Report | Try: Valu |
| McLean Park, Napier Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Clive Norling (Wales) |
| 29 May 1987 |
| Tonga | 16–29 | Wales |
| Try: Fielea Fifita Con: Liavaʻa Pen: Liava'a Amone | Report | Try: Webbe (3) Hadley Con: Thorburn (2) Pen: Thorburn (2) Drop: Davies |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Attendance: 19,000 Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand) |
| 3 June 1987 |
| Ireland | 32–9 | Tonga |
| Try: Mullin (3) MacNeill (2) Con: Ward (3) Pen: Ward (2) | Report | Pen: Amone (3) |
| Ballymore, Brisbane Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Guy Maurette (France) |
1995 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup
Pool D games -
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 47 | +67 | 9 |
| Scotland |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 149 | 27 | +122 | 7 |
| Tonga |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 90 | −46 | 5 |
 Ivory Coast |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 172 | −143 | 3 |
| 26 May 1995 |
| France | 38–10 | Tonga |
| Try: Lacroix (2) Hueber Saint-André Con: Lacroix (3) Pen: Lacroix (3) Drop: Delaigue | Try: Vaʻenuku Con: Tuipulotu Pen: Tuipulotu |
| Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Steve Lander (England) |
| 30 May 1995 |
| Scotland | 41–5 | Tonga |
| Try: S. Hastings Peters G. Hastings Con: G. Hastings Pen: G. Hastings (8) | Try: Fenukitau |
| Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 21,000 Referee: Barry Leask (Australia) |
| 3 June 1995 |
| Ivory Coast | 11–29 | Tonga |
| Try: Okou Pen: Dali (2) | Try: Otai Tuipulotu Latukefu Con: Tuipulotu (3) Pen: Tuipulotu |
| Olympia Park, Rustenburg Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Don Reordan (United States) |
1999 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup
Pool B games -
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 28 | +148 | 9 |
| England |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 184 | 47 | +137 | 7 |
| Tonga |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 171 | −124 | 5 |
 Italy |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 196 | −161 | 3 |
| 3 October 1999 |
| New Zealand | 45–9 | Tonga |
| Try: Lomu (2), Kelleher, Maxwell, Kronfeld Con: Mehrtens (4) Pen: Mehrtens (4) | Pen: Taumalolo (3) |
| Ashton Gate, Bristol Attendance: 21,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales) |
| 10 October 1999 |
| Italy | 25–28 | Tonga |
| Try: Moscardi Con: Domínguez Pen: Domínguez (6) | Try: Taufahema Fatani Tuipulotu Con: Tuipulotu (2) Pen: Tuipulotu (2) Drop: Tuipulotu |
| Welford Road Stadium, Leicester Referee: David McHugh (Ireland) |
| 15 October 1999 |
| England | 101–10 | Tonga |
| Try: Guscott (2) Greening (2) Luger (2) Healey (2) Greenwood (2) Dawson Perry Hill Con: Grayson (12) Pen: Grayson (4) | Try: Tiueti Con: Tuipulotu Pen: Tuipulotu |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 72,485 Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia) |
2003 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup
Group D games-
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 282 | 57 | +225 | 4 | 20 | Quarter-finals |
| Wales |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 132 | 98 | +34 | 2 | 14 | |
| Italy |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 123 | −46 | 0 | 8 | |
| Canada |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 135 | −81 | 1 | 5 | |
| Tonga |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 178 | −132 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 October 2003 |
| Italy | 36–12 | Tonga |
| Try: M. Dallan D. Dallan (2) Con: Wakarua (3) Pen: Wakarua (5) | Try: Payne Tuʻifua Con: Tuipulotu |
| Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 18,967 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) |
| 19 October 2003 |
| Wales | 27–20 | Tonga |
| Try: Cooper M. Williams Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones (4) Drop: M. Williams | Try: Hola Kivalu Lavaka Con: Hola Pen: Hola |
| Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 19,806 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) |
| 24 October 2003 |
| New Zealand | 91–7 | Tonga |
| Try: Braid Carter Flynn Ralph (2) Spencer Meeuws Penalty try Muliaina (2) MacDonald Howlett (2) Con: MacDonald (12) Spencer | Try: Hola Con: Tuipulotu |
| Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 47,588 Referee: Pablo De Luca (Argentina) |
| 2003-10-29 |
| Canada | 24–7 | Tonga |
| Try: Fauth Abrams Con: Pritchard Pen: Ross (4) | Try: Kivalu Con: Hola |
| Wollongong Showground, Wollongong Attendance: 15,630 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
2007 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup Pool A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 47 | +142 | 3 | 19 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup |
| 2 | England |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 88 | +20 | 2 | 14 | |
| 3 | Tonga |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 96 | −7 | 1 | 9 | Eliminated, automatic qualification for 2011 Rugby World Cup |
| 4 |  Samoa |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 143 | −74 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | United States |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 61 | 142 | −81 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 September 2007 14:00 |
| United States | 15–25 | Tonga |
| Try: MacDonald 47' m Stanfill 67' c Con: Hercus (1/2) Pen: Hercus (1/2) 33' | Report | Try: Maka 2' c Vaka 59' m Vaki 70' c Con: Hola (2/3) Pen: Hola (2/2) 7', 26' |
| Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
| 16 September 2007 16:00 |
| Samoa | 15–19 | Tonga |
| Pen: Williams (5/6) 6', 21', 23', 29', 69' | Report | Try: Taione 60' c Con: Hola (1/1) Pen: Hola (4/5) 3', 38', 47', 67' |
| Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 24,128 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
| 22 September 2007 14:00 |
| South Africa | 30–25 | Tonga |
| Try: Pienaar (2) 18' c, 65' m Smith 59' c Skinstad 62' m Con: Pretorius (1/1) Montgomery (1/3) Pen: Steyn (1/1) 54' Montgomery (1/1) 76' | Report | Try: Pulu 44' c Hufanga 70' m Vaki 72' c Con: Hola (2/3) Pen: Hola (2/3) 9', 78' |
| Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Attendance: 40,069 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
| 28 September 2007 21:00 |
| England | 36–20 | Tonga |
| Try: Sackey (2) 20' m, 38' m Tait 57' c Farrell 66' c Con: Wilkinson (2/4) Pen: Wilkinson (2/3) 14', 36' Drop: Wilkinson (2/2) 32', 72' | Report | Try: Hufanga 17' c T-Pole 80' c Con: Hola (2/2) Pen: Hola (2/2) 11', 55' |
| Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 45,085 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
2011 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup
Tonga played in Pool A. After losing to New Zealand and Canada, they beat Japan and then had an upset victory over eventual finalists France, their greatest World Cup match result to date.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 240 | 49 | +191 | 36 | 4 | 20 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup |
| 2 |  France |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 124 | 96 | +28 | 13 | 3 | 11 | |
| 3 | Tonga |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 98 | −18 | 7 | 1 | 9 | Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup |
| 4 | Canada |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 82 | 168 | −86 | 9 | 0 | 6 | |
| 5 | Japan |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 69 | 184 | −115 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 September 2011 | New Zealand | 41–10 | Tonga | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 14 September 2011 | Tonga | 20–25 | Canada | Northland Events Centre, Whangarei |
| 21 September 2011 | Tonga | 31–18 | Japan | Northland Events Centre, Whangarei |
| 1 October 2011 | France | 14–19 | Tonga | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington |
2015 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 49 | +125 | 25 | 3 | 19 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup |
| 2 |  Argentina |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 70 | +109 | 22 | 3 | 15 | |
| 3 |  Georgia |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 123 | −70 | 5 | 0 | 8 | Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup |
| 4 | Tonga |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 130 | −60 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 |  Namibia |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 | 174 | −104 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 September 2015 | Tonga | 10–17 | Georgia | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester |
| 29 September 2015 | Tonga | 35–21 | Namibia | Sandy Park, Exeter |
| 4 October 2015 | Argentina | 45–16 | Tonga | King Power Stadium, Leicester |
| 9 October 2015 | New Zealand | 47–9 | Tonga | St James' Park, Newcastle |
2019 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 119 | 20 | +99 | 17 | 3 | 17 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup |
| 2 | France |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 51 | +28 | 9 | 1 | 15 | |
| 3 | Argentina |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 106 | 91 | +15 | 14 | 3 | 11 | Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup |
| 4 | Tonga |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 67 | 105 | −38 | 9 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | United States |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 156 | −104 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 September 2019 19:15 JST (UTC+09) |
| (1 BP) England | 35–3 | Tonga |
| Try: Tuilagi (2) 24' m, 31' c George 57' c Cowan-Dickie 77' c Con: Farrell (3/4) 33', 58', 78' Pen: Farrell (3/3) 11', 37', 43' | Report | Pen: Takulua (1/1) 15' |
| Sapporo Dome, Sapporo Attendance: 35,923 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand) |
| 28 September 2019 13:45 JST (UTC+09) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 28–12 | Tonga |
| Try: Montoya (3) 7' c, 17' c, 26' c Carreras 20' c Con: Urdapilleta (4/4) 9', 19', 21', 28' | Report | Try: Veainu (2) 30' c, 66' m Con: Takulua (1/2) 32' |
| Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Attendance: 21,971 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
| 6 October 2019 16:45 JST (UTC+09) |
| France | 23–21 | Tonga (1 BP) |
| Try: Vakatawa 6' c Raka 32' c Con: Ntamack (2/2) 7', 34' Pen: Ntamack (3/4) 4', 52', 60' | Report | Try: Takulua 40' c Hingano 47' c Kapeli 79' c Con: Takulua (2/2) 40'+1, 49' Fosita (1/1) 80' |
| Egao Kenko Stadium, Kumamoto Attendance: 28,477 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
| 13 October 2019 14:45 JST (UTC+09) |
| United States | 19–31 | Tonga (1 BP) |
| Try: Te'o (2) 21' c, 26' m Lamborn 77' c Con: MacGinty (2/3) 22', 78' | Report | Try: Fisiihoi 17' c Hingano 58' c Piutau 62' c Veainu 80'+1 c Con: Takulua (2/2) 19', 60' Faiva (1/1) 64' Piutau (1/1) 80+2' Pen: Takulua (1/1) 51' |
| Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Attendance: 22,012 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
2023 Rugby World Cup
Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 46 | +144 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 19 | Advance to knockout stage, and qualification to the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup |
| 2 | South Africa |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 151 | 34 | +117 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | |
| 3 | Scotland |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 146 | 71 | +75 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 10 | Qualification to the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup |
| 4 | Tonga |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 177 | −81 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 |  Romania |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 287 | −255 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 September 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) Ireland | 59–16 | Tonga |
| Try: Beirne 21' c Doris 27' c Hansen 33' c Sexton 38' c Lowe 59' c Aki (2) 63' c, 69' c Herring 80' c Con: Sexton (4/4) 22', 28', 34', 39' Byrne (4/4) 60', 64', 70', 80+2' Pen: Sexton (1/1) 7' | Report | Try: V. Fifita 40+8' c Con: Havili (1/1) 40+9' Pen: Havili (3/3) 16', 25', 43' |
| Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Attendance: 31,673 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)[1] |
| 24 September 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) Scotland | 45–17 | Tonga |
| Try: Turner 5' c Van der Merwe 27' m Steyn 30' m Darge 40+2' c Horne 54' c Kinghorn 68' c Graham 80+2' c Con: Russell (5/7) 6', 40+3', 55', 70', 80+3' | Report | Try: Kata 20' c Tameifuna 44' c Con: Havili (2/2) 21', 45' Pen: Havili (1/1) 10' |
| Stade de Nice, Nice Attendance: 33,189 Referee: Karl Dickson (England)[1] |
| 1 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 49–18 | Tonga |
| Try: Reinach 5' c Moodie 20' c Fourie 32' c Kriel 49' c Le Roux 58' c Van Staden 63' c Smith 80+1' c Con: Pollard (4/4) 6', 21', 33', 51' Libbok (3/3) 59', 65', 80+2' | Report | Try: Tameifuna 38' m Inisi 54' m Pellegrini 73' m Pen: Havili (1/1) 3' |
| Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 60,387 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)[1] |
| 8 October 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) Tonga | 45–24 | Romania |
| Try: Kata (2) 11' c, 66' m Moala 15' c Taumoepeau 22' c Vailanu 49' c Ahki 62' c Taumoefolau 71' m Con: Havili (5/7) 13', 17', 23', 51', 63' | Report | Try: Boboc 30' c Surugiu 36' c Simionescu 55' c Con: Conache (3/3) 32', 37', 57' Pen: Conache (1/2) 19' |
| Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq Attendance: 45,042 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)[1] |
References
- Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1860746020.
- Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Post Corporation. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.
- 1 2 3 4 "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
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