Tonga have named a strong 21-man squad for the upcoming Tests against Australia and Great Britain after board turmoil threatened their end-of-season campaign. We support Tonga's NRL players and want to see them representing their great rugby league nation.". Comment on stories, get exclusive content and submit your own articles! "We want the best Tongan team playing in the World Nines," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said. Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has picked several new faces in his squad to face New Zealand in Auckland next Saturday. With the return of the 27 players, it is not expected that Israel Folau would be selected after this week declaring his availability to play for Tonga almost a decade after his last NRL appearance for Brisbane in 2010. Some letters stated the players "do not support the interim board" and will only represent Tonga "after the current interim board has resigned and new board is elected with the best interest of Tongan Rugby League at heart". The issue has been simmering for weeks, with Tim Sheens and Trent Barrett also linked to the coaching job, along with Brennan, but John Hopoate attempted to bring it to a head on Thursday by posting on social media that Woolf had been told to stand down. "I'm looking forward to an interim board being established so we can have Tonga's best players on the park and the best international competition possible.". Based upon the volume and magnitude of representations received the RLIF board decided that it needed to intervene immediately. Folau's eligibility was not discussed by the RLIF board but Woolf is expected to stick with the players who have been loyal to Mate Ma'a Tonga, many of whom turned their backs on the opportunity to play State of Origin or for Australia or New Zealand. "They are talking about going back to Australia and NZ too.". Tonga. Learn more about NRL Account. GB Oceania Ltd followed suit on Friday, terminating the TNRL's participation agreement for the end-of-year Lions and Oceania Cup matches. Woolf has named a 22-man squad of players mainly from the NRL, with Tonga… But if this board is still the board during the 9s and the two Tests at the end of the year, and as a spokesman for the players, we will NOT be taking any part in any of the games. ARLC chairman Peter Beattie said the Tonga government had made it clear that the current board does not have the support of its members, Tongan clubs and their best players. The RLIF, through Southern Hemisphere GM Jeremy Edwards, will provide support to assist with the transition and ensure the smooth running of the team during the upcoming fix. Tonga Prime Minister Semisi Sika wrote to the RLIF to advise that the TNRL had lost the support of domestic clubs, as well as the international players, and a new body would be established. The ‘first points scored after regular time’ format was preferred by 44 per cent of the 154 players polled by NRL.com, an increase from last year’s 35% of 117 players that voted. Full-strength Tonga ready for end-of-season tests. "Just finished speaking with the players and they are getting letters done up now. The RLIF board met on Thursday night and suspended the membership of the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL), which has been at loggerheads with the players after sacking coach Kristian Woolf. Does Taumalolo hold the key for the Cowboys to lure departing... Three NRL clubs circling premiership Cowboy. Rugby league first gained attention in Tonga when the Pacific Cup was partially held in the country during 1986. ", Fifita says no disrespect in Raiders' selections, Fifita sees silver lining playing from bench, Taumalolo ranks beating Kangaroos above Cowboys title, Klemmer defies pain after choosing Roos over surgery, Graham backs Johnson to bounce back from Kiwis axing, You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content. “The RLIF stresses that the suspension of TNRL is not an expulsion and is intended to provide a period of stability, while the matters raised by the various stakeholders can be properly and fully investigated. Woolf is now set to be invited to return as coach, along with the support staff who helped Tonga's rise to become the game's No.4 ranked nation. Stream the 2019 Oceania Cup Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. The unanimous decision to suspend the TNRL's membership of the RLIF pending a full investigation into issues raised by various parties during the stand-off followed expressions of concern from other nations, the RFL and ARLC. Tonga lost a heart-breaking semi-final to England at the 2017 World Cup, and with other high-profile NRL stars like Tevita Pangai, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Addin Fonua-Blake - who has the country's 676 postcode tattooed under his right eye - and Will Hopoate all pulling on the country's red jersey, they are regarded as dark horses to win the 2021 World Cup. As a result of the RLIF's decision, the NRL will withdraw an invitation for a team governed by the TNRL to play at the World Cup Nines.

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