TONGA

HIS MAJESTY’S ARMED FORCES RUGBY TEAM (HMAFRT) FORMERLY KNOWN AS TONGA DEFENCE SERVICES (TDS) RUGBY TEAM WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1972 AND PARTICIPATES IN THE TONGA RUGBY UNION (TRU) ANNUAL CLUB TOURNAMENT

In 1974 HMAFRT first overseas tour was to New Caledonia as part of the Defence Relationship with France and the Captain was the First Tongan to be the Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS), His Excellency the Late Honourable Colonel Fetu’utolu Tupou. HMAFRT won both games that they played against the French Armed Forces Rugby Team. There were HMAFRT members such as the late Force Sergeant Major (FSM) SWO1 Siaosi Selupe (Uhi), Supileo Fotu, Fa’aleo Tupi, Isikeli Vave, Siua Mahe, Sione Petelo, Tevita Va’ivaka, the former CDS Brigadier General Tauaika ‘Uta’atu, Captain Satisi Vunipola, Pasuka Mapakaitolo and Mofuike Tu’ungafasi
were selected to represent Tonga’s National Team. However, only a few were available at the time during the Tour to Australia was part of the Tonga National Team that beat the Wallabies in Australia during the test match in 1974.

HMAFRT participation at the TRU Club Tournament only lasted for 7 years (until 1979) due to shortage of players as most of the key players were either on military tour overseas or occupied with other commitments on match day. However, soldiers who were still interested in playing rugby, played for their own village or district team. In 1989 His Late Majesty King Tupou IV and his Defence Board members banned HMAF personnel from playing rugby after one of the Midshipmen (MID Tupou Selupe) was paralysed from a rugby injury during his officer training in New Zealand.

MODERN TIMES

In 2005 HMAF personnel were again allowed to play rugby after His Late Majesty’s King George V and his Defence Board members approved the submission made by the Former CDS (BG Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu) for members of HMAF to play rugby again in order to participate in the first International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC) which was held in Australia in 2006, where they won the Plate. Prior to the competition HMAFRT again participated in the TRU Club Tournament as part of the preparation for the IDRC.

HMAFRT also participated in the IDRC in 2011 where they beat the NZDF at the quarter final but lost to the British Army in the semi-final.

HMAFRT has continuously participated in the TRU Club Tournament since 2005 and made its way up to Premier Class in 2007. In 2013 HMAFRT won one and lost two test matches against the ADF during the ADF Tour to Tonga. HMAF has progressed well in the TRU Club Tournament and they lost the 2014 Championship after being beaten by the Marist at the final.