You have to feel for Tonga. All that talent, all that excitement and they end up in the "Pool of Death" at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
The Tongan team huddle together following their Rugby World Cup defeat to Argentina. Photo: AFP
Here's everything you need to know about the team.
Who does Tonga play first at the Rugby World Cup?
First up is England and that is quite a game for both sides. England, ranked fourth in the world, should be tough for Tonga but England have slipped up against lower ranked teams before. Still, this looks like a big ask for Tonga.
The game will be at the Sapporo Dome on Sunday September 22.
When will Tonga play at the Rugby World Cup?
The first game will be against England on Sunday, September 22 at 7.15 pm, Japanese Time.
That means the local timing of the match is:
- Nuku'alofa: Sunday, 11.15pm
- Auckland: Sunday 10.15pm
- Sydney: Sunday 8.15pm
The second game is against Argentina on Saturday September 28 at 1.45pm Japanese Time.
That means the local timing of the match is:
- Nuku'alofa: Saturday 5.45pm
- Auckland: Saturday 4.45pm
- Sydney: Saturday 2.45pm
Tonga will play its third pool match against France on Sunday October 6 at 4.45pm, Japanese Time.
- Nuku'alofa: Sunday 8.45pm
- Auckland: Sunday 8.45pm
- Sydney: Sunday 6.45pm
A week later it will play USA on Sunday October 13 at 2.45pm, Japanese Time
- Nuku'alofa: Sunday 6.45pm
- Auckland: Sunday 6.45pm
- Sydney: Sunday 4.45pm
When will the Rugby World Cup be held?
The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held on Friday, September 20. Kick-off in Tokyo will be 7.45pm.
The kick-off in local times will be:
- Nuku'alofa: Friday 11.45pm
- Auckland: Friday 10.45pm
- Sydney: Friday 8.45pm
When will the final of the Rugby World Cup be held?
The final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held in Yokohama on Saturday, November 2 at 6pm.
The kick-off in local times will be:
- Nuku'alofa: Saturday 10pm
- Auckland: Saturday 10pm
- Sydney: Saturday 8pm
Is there a "pool of death" at the 2019 Rugby World Cup?
Yes, there is a "Pool of Death" and, unfortunately, Tonga is in it.
Pool C has England (4th ranked in the world), France (8) and Argentina (9) up against Tonga (12) and the USA (15).
Only two from each pool can progress through to the quarter-finals. There is a sliver of good news. At the Rugby World Cup in 2011, Tonga did France, 19-14. France went on to be the beaten finalists that year.
The Tongan team training in Spain Photo: Tonga Rugby Union
How have Tonga performed at previous Rugby World Cups?
Tonga played in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 but missed the next when they did not qualify. They have played at every Rugby World Cup since then, often being one of the best supported underdogs.
Their biggest win came at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand when they overcame France, who later advanced to the finals (and were beaten by New Zealand in the final 8-7, the slimmest margin of any Rugby World Cup.
Tonga have never made it past the pool stages.
Their wins include: 29-11 over Ivory Coast (1995), 28-25 over Italy (1999), 31-18 over Japan (2011), 19-14 versus France (2011) and 35-21 over Namibia (2015).
-RNZ
