Live stream: How Tonga stepped up to win Under-10s Pacific Youth Rugby Festival in first appearance

Queensland Tonga wasted no time impressing at the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, taking out the Under-10s competition in their first year. The club has since received an influx of interest from families wanting to get in early for 2024. Full details:

In their first year of the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, Tonga’s Under-10s side claimed victory and are now the centre of attention.

The star-studded lineup featured some household rugby names, and despite having next to no time to learn, the squad were quick to boast their skills.

“We knew these kids were talented, I mean we taught them the game in less than a week and they took out the whole competition,” coach Salesi Manu said.

“These kids want to play both codes and we’re just grateful to have the opportunity.”

The Tongan club are eager to continue building for next year with the hopes of registering teams in more age groups.

Pacific Youth Rugby Festival 2023 U10 boys winners: Tonga

“The amount of families that have reached out and want to be part of this already is huge.

“Not just Tongan families, we’ve got heaps of kids participating that aren’t Tongan but they embrace the culture of unity,” he said.

President and coach Tonga Lea’atoa backed Manu’s statement and said: “If the ARU want to see how to grow the game at grassroots level come down and see how we build environments for kids to enjoy, learn and thrive in through culture.”

“The Kau Toa is a community club, built on good foundations by great people and this is just the beginning,” Manu said.

PREVIEW

With so much culture being shared, the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival is quite the spectacle for players, family and friends alike.

This year, Tonga will be a part of that for the very first time as they head to Albany Creek rugby club at Brendale with an U10s team in tow.

The opening ceremony on Friday is set to feature traditional dances, haka performances and national anthems before games kick into gear.

FIND OUT HOW TO WATCH THE PACIFIC YOUTH RUGBY FESTIVAL

You can catch all 150 games LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV over three days. Watch the action from four fields, starting at 8.50am on Friday and 8am on Saturday and Sunday.

Check out the LIVE STREAM schedule below.

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Under the safe hands of a star-studded coaching panel, the 23 young stars are eager to test their rugby league skills in the union format.

“I know our boys haven’t played rugby, but we thought it would be exciting to have the first Tongan team,” former professional rugby player-turned coach Tonga Lea’aetoa said.

“Initially we were going to put more teams in, but with time constraints we decided to just do the 10s.

“We put our heads together and we have a good community.

“We’ve only had two trainings, but we just want to share our culture and share our experiences with other people, and I think this is a great way to do it.

While the competitive gene runs strong in this lineup, Lea’aetoa and his fellow coaches want to instil the importance of culture and fun for their boys.

The Queensland Tongan U10 team.

“Having fun is my number one priority,” he said.

“They’re going to remember that more than anything else.”

Former rugby league star John Hopoate’s niece, Frankie Vatuvei, will fly with her family from Sydney to play this weekend, alongside Lea’aetoa’s son Jonah and former heavyweight national champion Will Nasio’s twin sons, Dzel-Dio and Zion-Peli.

The coaching team is just as impressive, with three former professional union stars (Tonga Lea’aetoa, Pila Fifita and Salesi Manu), and two NRL up-and-comers (Viliami Fifita and JoJo Fifita) all giving a helping hand.

PLAYING SQUAD

Kaufana Jnr Taulepa, Achilles Akauola, Dzel-Dion Nasio, Quezon Foliaki, Jonah Lea’etoa, Siosifa Piutua, Kairangi Masters, Breaze To’omaga, Phoenyx Whakatihi-Shaw, Benji Cashmore, Elijah Barber Murray, Zion-Peli Nasio, AJ Benedict, Johnny Quinn, Levi Vakauta, Anzak Raharuhi, Lennox Fifita, Kingston Otutaha, Lennyx Knight, Kirini Robinson-Feki, Frankie Vatuvei, Kaelan Lavelle and Awatea Salt

Water boy: Titus Manu

Coaching Team: Tonga Lea’aetoa, Pila Fifita, Salesi Manu, Kingi Akauola, Will Nasio, Levi Murray