STRONG QLD TONGAN CONTINGENT ON SHOW AT QRU PRELIMINARY FINALS

08/08/14

The Queensland Premier Rugby competition is one week away from reaching its climax with University awaiting the winner of the clash between fellow competition heavyweights GPS and Sunnybank this Sunday at Ballymore stadium.
A number of players from the Queensland Tongan community will line up among Queensland Reds representatives as well as some of the State’s best and brightest talents like Reds players Liam Gill, Greg Holmes, Jake Schatz, Samu Kerevi and Sam Johnson all listed on the team sheets to lace up for battle in Sunday’s showpiece game of the afternoon at 3:05pm.

In a team where its feared backline get much of the plaudits, the largely unsung pack of the Gallopers will have a number of Tongans looking to do their part to turn the result in favour of the Gallopers. The GPS Tongan contingent will be led by Queensland Red and Wallaby Saia Fainga’a who has been at his tenacious best at the breakdown and will go into the trenches with Queensland Tongan reps Phil (Ma’u) Kite and Ryan Freney to combat the big names waiting for them in the Sunnybank pack.
After a slow start to the year, Kite is starting to find the kind of form that saw him introduced into the Reds system with his running game and the unique link play in his game not common with other front rowers beginning to find momentum in this finals series. Freney’s consistently tireless efforts across the park throughout the entire year is the reason that at the tender age of 26 the honorary Tongan was rightfully rewarded with a spot in the Queensland Country NRC squad. Among other key match ups, Freney’s match up with Holmes will no doubt be an important barometer as to which team will ultimately come out on top. Chomping at the bit to make a contribution will be Queensland Premier stalwart Isaac Helu and the quickly developing young and abrasive Dylan Sikimeti waiting in the wings from the bench for a taste of the action.

Just like the Gallopers, the Queensland Tongan contribution to the Sunnybank cause will also solely reside in the engine room with Feao Fotuaika, Lolo Fakaosilea and Chazz Mahina looking to sway the result in the Dragon’s favour by creating a solid platform for the Sunnybank flyers eagerly awaiting to pounce on any half opportunity out wide. Fotuaika will partner Greg Holmes up front in the pack where consistent performances this year have seen the decorated age grade representative make significant head waves towards realising his true potential as a rugby player.
The impressive Fakaosilea will start in the pack at 6 and will hope to impose his running game on the edges and brutal defensive game upon the opposition, while the quickly developing Chazz Mahina will wait for his opportunity from the bench as an impact player. Mahina’s role is not to be underestimated with the quietly spoken but outstanding teenage flanker arguably the best and most consistent Queensland Tongan player in Queensland Premier rugby alongside the injured Vili Fainga’a this year. Mahina’s potent pilfering skills at the breakdown belies his developing frame and the GPS team will have their work cut out for them with Mahina and Reds player Liam Gill waiting to be unleashed off the bench.

The game is sure to be an exciting game with both teams containing a good spread of rugby talent across both their entire match day 23’s making the game and enticing one that spectators surely not miss with both of the club’s supporters as well as the avid rugby lover in for a treat of high quality rugby. If you are not doing anything on Sunday why don’t you get down and support our best up and comers coming through the grade. Queensland Tonga Rugby wish all our players participating in finals rugby in all grades the best of luck this weekend.

Meegee Tip: GPS by less than 7.

Inset: GPS’s Saia Fainga’a on the charge in last week’s knock out semi against Brothers.

Photo courtesy of GPSRugby – The Gallopers

(Meegee)

QTRU PARTNERS WITH WAREHOUSE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

“The birth of the first ever Queensland Tonga Rugby Union academy is the first step towards providing a real, meaningful base for players on the cusp of going to the next level outside the system, with a resource that will allow them to hit the ground running, ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes ahead.”

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union is pleased to announce the formal sponsorship and partnership of Warehouse Strength and Conditioning and the QTRU for the 2014/2015 year. For the first time ever, the partnership will inevitably allow our best and brightest talent on the cusp of going to the next level and not currently in a recognised system, exposure to training that will undoubtedly help them in their quest to be the best players they can be. By also teaming up talented players together, in the one place and training together, will theoretically assist the lucky players involved in the program to push each other to attain optimum results of themselves and of each other.

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union Rugby Program Co-ordinator James Kite said “The program is designed to satisfy our primary objective since day one, and that is to do all we can to help our players. All involved with the QTRU organisation are delighted to have secured the expertise and support of Micah Beveridge (Owner and Head Trainer of WS&C) and the team at Warehouse Strength & Conditioning and as a group we are humbled that such a keen and community aware organisation sees enough promise in our program and community to extend their support and invest in unearthing our next batch of talented players. We are hoping to be able to find our next Feleti Kaitu’u’s, Lolo Fakaosilea’s or Josh Afu’s as a result of this program and have a real part in the development of our home grown players.”

Players nominated in the historic first ever QTRU academy will be exposed to rugby specific olympic lifting, power lifting, functional strong man and speed and agility training under the watchful eye of owner and Head Trainer Micah Beveridge. The sessions with Warehouse Strength and Conditioning will complement the aerobic and on-field training received by Queensland Tonga Strength and Conditioning coach Tevita Tuli Peu. With such an investment into its players Queensland Tonga Rugby hopes it has provided its players with the necessary tools to be able to take advantage of any opportunity that may present itself in the future in a market and time where if you dont take advantage of an opportunity when it is first presented you can be thrown on the scrapheap straight away.

There are limited spots available for the QTRU academy and will be open to both male and femal applicants, where academy members will be selected based on a detailed selection process. Players interested in receiving the ultimate opportunity need to submit a brief recent player history and contact details to qldtonganrugby@gmail.com or by private mail to the Queensland Tonga Rugby Union Facebook page. Successful candidates will be announced via the Facebook page on Friday 8th of August.

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union is looking forward to what the future holds and what this venture means to the community.

[INSET: Junior Fakaosilea, one of our brightest and promising prospects contracted with the Queensland Reds & proud member of the Queensland Tonga Rugby Union family]

 

 

QTRU TAKE MONIMONU CUP TO THE NEST

21/07/14

“Tradition does not mean that the living are dead, it means that the dead are living.”

The nest has been a humble place of beginnings for almost all bird species known to man and the appropriately named home of the Souths Rugby Union club has not only been a breeding ground for some of the world’s greatest rugby union talent, but the same rings true for the club’s contribution for the Queensland Tongan community, being a notable traditional place of beginnings for many Queensland Tongans over many years.

It is with this acknowledgement in mind that the Queensland Tonga Rugby Union is pleased to announce that they will be hosting the 2014 Tongan Battle of the States for the Monimonu Cup at the Souths Rugby Union club. In its quest for an appropriate venue to host this monumental Australian Tongan event, the committee has decided the Annerley based club was the most appropriate to allow the group to pay homage to two of its late former greats, former Tonga captain and number 8 SIone Mafi and Tongan back Fatai Kefu.

For those of you not familiar with the role these two men played, both Mafi and Kefu were part of the historic 1973 Tonga team that is best remembered for being one of the biggest upsets in world rugby when they defeated the Wallabies at Ballymore 16-11. After settling in Queensland both men continued to make considerable contributions to Tongan rugby in Queensland via the Souths Rugby Union Club and their contributions are still felt to this day with both players’ families still supporting and/or contributing to the Queensland Tonga Rugby efforts in some way. One member of that legendary squad Fa’aleo Tupi still lives in Queensland and will also be honoured by the Queensland Tonga Rugby Union.

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union is grateful to the Souths Rugby Union club for wanting to maintain the rich relationship it has with the Tongan community. The club has been a constant source of support for the QTRU efforts alongside the Norths Rugby Union club since the group was formally formed in 2012 as an amalgamation of the traditional Alamuhu, North Barabarians, and Inala Tongan teams. Taking this showcase event for the Australian Tongan community being hosted by Queensland Tonga Rugby Union is homage paid much in the same way with Mafi and Kefu, with the QTRU also acknowledging the Annerley nest’s role to Tongans in Queensland.

Acknowledging the rich history of the Tongan community in Queensland has always been a key focus and the entire QTRU committee is looking forward to showcasing our history and the best of our community when the best local Tongan players from A.C.T, Melbourne and New South Wales converge onto Queensland to contest for the Monimonu Cup which begins from Thursday November 6th to Saturday November 8th,  When festivities kick off for the Monimonu Cup, there is no doubt all players donning the Queensland Tonga jersey will do so with the memories of both Mafi and Kefu’s feats still firmly imprinted in their hearts and minds, to represent the community and to perform to the best of their abilities in the same fearless manner that made the great late number 8 and centre famous, keeping this warrior tradition alive and well in the community both men gave so much to.

(meegee82)

Watch the highlights of the famous game on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSvWo4eh6U

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union Sipi Tau

Queensland Tonga Rugby Union perform Sipi tau prior to inaugural Monimonu Cup game against NSW Tonga Rugby Union.

2013 Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW Sipi Tau

NSW Tonga Rugby Union Sipi Tau prior to inaugural Monimonu Cup game against Queensland Tonga.

Queensland Tonga

Queensland Tonga Monimonu promotional poster.

Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW Rugby Union

NSW Tonga Rugby Union Monimonu promotional poster

Melbourne Tonga Rugby Unuion

Melbourne Tonga Monimonu promotional poster

ACT Tonga

ACT Tonga Monimonu Promotional Poster

NSW TONGA LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE LUPE IN 2014

24/05/14

The humble “Lupe” (or Dove), the symbol of NSW Tonga Rugby Union is a famous representation of freedom, peace and discovery (‘Eva) and absolutely embodies the NSW Tonga Rugby Union drive in 2014. Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW Rugby Union, true to form, appear ready to “discover” more hidden gems they can take up to the Sunshine State and defend their 2013 women’s title as well as hopefully going one better in the men’s divison. 

The NSW group also want to continue the discovery process to keep filtering players directly into the Tongan system after the hugely successful NSW contribution for the Tonga A squad that competed in the Pacific Rugby competition and finished an astounding 4th overall this year. 
Lupe’eva uncovered rough diamonds Sione Ala, Seah Namoa, and Alfie Paea after solid form for NSW Tonga and each played beyond themselves once they went to the next level for Tonga A, proving once and for all undiscovered talent is very much there for the picking, the hard part is investing enough time into the community to allow those players to make themselves known. 

This season, the discovery process for the next batch will begin via the Lupe’eva Rugby Challenge where open men, women and U20’s players from right throughout the State will get a chance to put their best foot forward and stake a claim for a Sky Blue Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW jersey. 
There is no doubt all players lucky enough to be selected will be looking to make their presence known against the best of Queensland Tonga, A.C.T Tonga and Melbourne Tonga in November, where the ultimate discovery process will come to completion when it is determined once and for all, who is worthy of an Australian Tongan Monimonu jersey after the tournament. 
It seems almost a formality that the humble free spirit embodied by the Lupe will drive some its players to realize their absolute best and into some of those very jerseys. 

President of Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW Angina Lapa was thrilled to see so much interest in the team this year and said “the concept will only thrive with the participation of our very best players that come from the best clubs in NSW club rugby, wanting to prove themselves against the best from their Tongan brothers and sisters from the other States. It will also thrive through the official support of Wallaby greats such as Rev. Viliami Ofahengaue who has come on board as a tournament and NSW Tonga ambassador this year, this will only drive our men and women to push themselves further than they ever have before. “ 

It seems that taking all these factors into consideration the Lupe of NSW is looking to expand its territory, when it launches its teams head first into Queensland intent on awakening the sleeping giants that are the men and women of NSW Tonga. So you think you want play for NSW Tonga? Only those willing to give outside of themselves and refuse to be caged physically and mentally allowing their talents to roam free like the humble Lupe will survive, because ultimately once this level of commitment has been reached the sky is the limit. Queensland, Melbourne, A.C.T be prepared. 

(meegee82)

[Inset: Lupe’eva ‘o Tonga NSW Rugby Union graduate and Tonga A Representative Seah Namoa. Photo courtesy of J.B Photography]