Editing Tonga (section)

====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.