Editing Tonga (section)

=== Sport ===
{{Further|Sport in Tonga}}

====Rugby union====

[[Rugby union]] is the national sport,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualoceania.net/tonga/culture/sport.shtml|title=Tonga Sport|work=Virtual Oceania|date=26 February 2015|access-date=26 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226202930/http://www.virtualoceania.net/tonga/culture/sport.shtml|archive-date=26 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Tonga national rugby union team|national team]] (ʻIkale Tahi, or Sea Eagles) has performed quite well on the international stage. Tonga has competed in six [[Rugby World Cup]]s since [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]. The [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]] and [[2011 Rugby World Cup]]s were Tonga's most successful to date, both winning two out of four matches and in a running chance for the quarterfinals. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga won its first two matches, against the [[United States national rugby union team|USA]] 25–15, and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] 19–15. They came very close to upsetting the eventual winners of the 2007 tournament, the South African [[Springboks]], losing 30–25. A defeat by [[England National Rugby Union Team|England]], 36–20 in their last pool game ended their hopes of making the knockout stages. Nevertheless, by picking up third place in their pool games behind South Africa and England, Tonga earned automatic qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. In [[2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A|Pool A]] of the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]], Tonga beat both [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] 31–18 and 5th ranked<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=42/index.html/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107015727/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=42/index.html/|title=Official RWC 2011 Site|archive-date=7 January 2012|work=rugbyworldcup.com}}</ref> eventual finalist [[France national rugby union team|France]] 19–14 in the latter pool stages. However, a previous heavy defeat by the [[All Blacks]] at the tournament's opener (41–10) and a subsequent tight defeat by [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] (25–20) meant that Tonga lost out to France (who also lost to [[All Blacks|NZ]]) for the quarter finals due to 2 bonus points and a points difference of 46.

Tonga's best result before 2007 came in [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]], when they beat [[Ivory Coast national rugby union team|Côte d'Ivoire]] 29–11, and [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]] when they beat [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] 28–25 (although with only 14 men they lost heavily to England, 101–10). Tonga perform the [[Kailao|Ikale Tahi war dance]] or Sipi Tau (a form of [[Kailao]]) before all their matches. Tonga used to compete in the [[Pacific Tri-Nations]] against Samoa and Fiji, which has now been replaced by the [[World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup]], which now involves [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]], [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]], and the [[United States national rugby union team|United States]]. At club level, there are the [[Datec Cup Provincial Championship]] and the [[Pacific Rugby Cup]]. Rugby union is governed by the [[Tonga Rugby Football Union]], which was a member of the [[Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance]] and contributed to the [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team]], before they were disbanded in 2009.

Many players of Tongan descent – e.g., [[Jonah Lomu]], [[Israel Folau]], [[Viliami Ofahengaue|Viliami "William" ʻOfahengaue]], [[Malakai Fekitoa]], [[Ben Afeaki]], [[Charles Piutau]], [[Frank Halai]], [[Sekope Kepu]], [[George Smith (rugby union)|George Smith]], [[Cliff Palu|Wycliff Palu]], [[Sitaleki Timani]], [[Salesi Ma'afu]], [[Anthony Fainga'a|Anthony]] and [[Saia Fainga'a]], [[Mark Gerrard]], [[Cooper Vuna]], [[Doug Howlett]], [[Toutai Kefu]] and [[Tatafu Polota-Nau]] – have played for either the All Blacks or the Wallabies. [[British and Irish Lions|British and Irish Lion]] and Welsh international player [[Taulupe Faletau|Taulupe "Toby" Faletau]] is Tongan born and the son of Tongan international [[Kuli Faletau]]. Taulupe's cousins and England international players [[Billy Vunipola|Billy]] and [[Mako Vunipola]] (who is also a [[British and Irish Lion]]), are sons of former Tonga rugby captain [[Fe'ao Vunipola]]. Rugby is popular among the nation's schools, and students from schools such as Tonga College and [[Tupou College]] are regularly offered scholarships in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

====Rugby league====
[[File:Tonga team 2008 RLWC (2).jpg|thumb|The Tongan rugby league team]]
[[Rugby league]] has gained some success. Tonga made their first appearance at a [[Rugby League World Cup]] in the [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]] edition where they went out in the first stage but narrowly lost to [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]. They have since appeared in each subsequent Rugby League World Cup tournament. In the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]] [[Tonga national rugby league team|Tonga]] recorded wins against [[Ireland national rugby league team|Ireland]] and [[Scotland national rugby league team|Scotland]]. Just before the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017 World Cup]], various high-profile players, led by [[Jason Taumalolo]] and [[Andrew Fifita]], defected from their tier one nations to represent their nation of heritage. This led to them defeating New Zealand in Hamilton at [[Waikato Stadium]] on 11 November at that tournament. The national team has since also recorded victories against [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and the world number one [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]. In addition to the success of the national team, many players of Tongan descent make it big in the Australian [[National Rugby League]] competition. These include [[Jason Taumalolo]], [[Israel Folau]], [[Tyson Frizell]], [[Tevita Pangai Junior]], [[Konrad Hurrell]], [[David Fusitua]], [[Tuimoala Lolohea]], [[Sio Siua Taukeiaho]], [[Jorge Taufua]], [[William Hopoate]], [[Andrew Fifita]], [[Ben Murdoch-Masila]], [[Felise Kaufusi]], [[Willie Mason]], [[Manu Vatuvei]], [[Brent Kite]], [[Fuifui Moimoi]], [[Willie Tonga]], [[Anthony Tupou]], [[Antonio Kaufusi]], [[Michael Jennings (rugby league)|Michael Jennings]], [[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]], [[Feleti Mateo]]. Subsequently, some Tongan rugby league players have established successful careers in the [[Super League]] such as Antonio Kaufusi.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=12004 |title= Superleague |date= 8 October 2008 |publisher= Superleague |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120406012927/http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=12004 |archive-date= 6 April 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

==== Olympics ====
{{Main|Tonga at the Olympics}}

Aside from rugby, Tonga has also produced athletes who have competed at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Tonga's only Olympic medal came from the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, where [[Paea Wolfgramm]] won silver in [[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Super heavyweight|super heavyweight]] boxing. One athlete, [[Pita Taufatofua]], attended the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

==== American football ====
Several Tongans have been football players in the [[National Football League]], including [[Tuineau Alipate]], [[Sione Takitaki]], [[Spencer Folau]], [[Lakei Heimuli]], [[Steve Kaufusi]], [[Ma'ake Kemoeatu]], [[Deuce Lutui]], [[Siupeli Malamala]], [[Tim Manoa]], [[Stan Mataele]], [[Vili Maumau]], [[Alfred Pupunu]], [[Vai Sikahema]], [[Star Lotulelei]], [[Vita Vea]], [[Talanoa Hufanga]], [[Peter Tuipulotu]], [[Marlon Tuipulotu]], and [[Tuli Tuipulotu]].<ref>Grasso, John (2013). ''Historical Dictionary of Football''. Scarecrow Press. Page 492. {{ISBN|9780810878570}}</ref>