Rugby stars give back to Tonga

Australian Rugby stars, Taniela Tupou (Wallabies) and Lachlan McCaffrey (Waratahs coach), will conduct a ‘Youth in Union’ tour in Tonga nest week, from 7-14 October.

The tour aims to support young rugby players in Tonga by providing rugby gear and equipment to encourage their continued participation in the sport.

Rugby clinics, school programs in Tongatapu and Vava’u, and the distribution of rugby equipment will be major parts of the tour.

Taniela Tupou, who will be fresh off an impressive stint with the Wallabies, said he looks forward to the tour and reconnecting with his Tongan roots.

“It means a lot for me to return home, share my experiences, and hopefully inspire the next generation of Tongan boys and girls to dream big, not just on the rugby field but in other areas they’d like to pursue,” he said.

A 20-foot shipping container filled with rugby gear and equipment was collected throughout the year and donated by players and rugby clubs from across Australia for this tour.

This will mark the tenth Youth in Union shipment of equipment to Tonga since the initiative was launched in 2015.

The tour will include visits to several schools across Tongatapu and Vava’u and will also feature a community rugby clinic for 12 to 18-year-olds at Mailefihi College Rugby Field on Saturday 11 October from 9-11am. This clinic is open to the wider community.

Youth in Union

The Youth in Union tour is a rugby initiative founded by former Brumbies player and current Waratahs coach Lachlan McCaffrey, alongside Tongan rugby legend Eddie Aholelei. 

The initiative aims to give back to Tonga by providing its youth with essential rugby equipment and opportunities

This will help the youth to fully participate in the sport and improve their skills.

The Australian Government through PacificAus Sports and in collaboration with Rugby Australia also provided support to this year’s Youth in Union tour.