Tonga's inside centre Pita Ahki dives across the line to score a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Tonga and Romania at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille. Photo: AFP
The 'Ikale Tahi's focus for 2025 is qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with qualifiers set to be held during the Pacific Nations Cup series scheduled for late July this year.
Tonga Rugby Union chief executive 'Aisea Aholelei said their priority is to qualify for the world event.
"Everything that we are planning is geared towards qualifying for the World Cup 2027," he said.
"World Rugby has moved the qualification to this year and that is the priority for the 'Ikale Tahi."
Tonga will be playing against Fiji and Samoa in the Pacific pool, with matches against Japan, Canada and USA from the Asia pool also on the bill, depending on how they perform from the first two pool matches.
With Fiji and Japan already qualified, the best three teams from the PNC series will qualify directly for the world meet.
The bottom placed team at the end of the series will still have a chance to qualify, playing off against the runner-up from the South American qualifiers.
World Rugby announced the qualification process for the men's Rugby World Cup Australia 2027, the first event to feature 24 nations, on 9 January.
The new process opens new avenues for more teams to reach the pinnacle of the sport, raising global standards along the way.
World Rugby said with 12 teams - France, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, Champions South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan - qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023, the other 12 teams will be determined via the RWC 2027 global qualification process.
All six regions having at least one direct qualifying spot, the new process features a blend of existing regional competitions, a pathway through the new Pacific Nations Cup, a cross-continental play-off and one final qualification tournament.
All qualification is set to be concluded by the end of 2025. World Rugby said all teams will be known before the Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw takes place ahead of the Men's Six Nations 2026.
The new format will feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added prior to the quarterfinals.
This will enable the tournament window to be reduced from seven to six weeks, while promoting a rhythm that builds momentum across the pool phase and respects the same minimum number of rest days between matches as at France 2023.
Aholelei said 2025 is a big year for Tonga Rugby.
Following the PNC, the Tonga Rugby is also looking at securing at least three Test matches during the October/November window.
Best players
Aholelei said as part of their focus they will also be out to secure top professional players who are eligible for Tonga.
He said the coaching team, led by head coach Tevita Tuifua and assistant Nili Latu, have been tasked with talking to all top professional players eligible to play for the nation's national team.
"Obviously, we want the best players available," he said.
"Some things make it harder because of their existing unions and those contracts might make it harder for us to talk.
"But just gauging the top players who might be available for us this year is top priority."
He said that will include former All Blacks, Wallabies and Japan players.
Head coach Tuifua said top halfback Folau Fakatava, who is eligible to play for Tonga this year, is on their radar too.
Tuifua says they will be talking to Fakatava, who last played for the All Backs on July 16, 2022, this week.
"We will be talking to him, finding out if he is interested and what he thinks," the former 'Ikale Tahi said.
"And we will be doing the same with other players who are currently playing in Europe, around New Zealand and Australia as well."
In the past month, Tuifia and Latu have been working with New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchises on under-studying their training and pre-season sessions.
They started off with Moana Pasifika in December and linked up with the Blues last week.
A session with the Chiefs is scheduled for this week.
"We just learning and observing and obviously it also gives us the opportunity to be looking at some players who might be good 'Ikale Tahi material also," he added.
He said local players who were called into the 'Ikale Tahi last year are also being looked at as they continue to be given the opportunity to prove their worth.
