Tonga Samurai XV Squad Announced

The Japan Rugby Football Union is pleased to announce the squad for the Tonga Samurai XV ahead of their Japan Rugby Charity Match 2022, against the Emerging Blossoms on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo. The match is the culmination of ongoing fundraising efforts across Japanese rugby to support the people of Tonga following the devastation caused by the recent underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami. The match will be televised both in Japan and Tonga and all funds raised will go to support reconstruction projects in Tonga.

The Tonga Samurai XV brings together players from Tonga, or with Tongan heritage, from across Japan Rugby League One. The team represents Tongan players past and present, who play their rugby in the Japanese spirit of Bushido, with Tongan pride. The team logo features the flags and swords of both countries.

They will play against a Japanese invitational side playing for the first time under the Emerging Blossoms name. The team will be made up of players from Japan’s National Development Squad (NDS) whom the national coaching team view as potential future members of the Brave Blossoms.

William Sinali Latu, Coach of Tonga Samurai XV comment:

“With such great Tongan talent across League One, we had a hard time selecting this final squad. We have brought together a team combining both veterans and younger players, and they will be led Kubota Spears’ Captain, Sione Vatuvei.  Most of the players have lived in Japan since either high school or university, and many of them have the potential to represent Japan in the future. Every player will participate with a passionate desire to help in the reconstruction efforts back home in Tonga and out of respect and gratitude to their adopted home of Japan.”

TONGA SAMURAI XV SQUAD

POSITIONAMETEAM/COMPANY
PRLata TANGIMANA花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
PRSione HALASILI横浜キヤノンイーグルス
YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
PRSila PUAFISI花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
PRIsileli NAKAJIMAコベルコ神戸スティーラーズ
KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS 
HOAlfanesta MAHINA花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
HOSione MAU大阪体育大学
OSAKA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND SPORT SCIENCES
LOIka MOTULALO TAKAU丸和運輸機関 AZ-MOMOTARO’S
MARUWA RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
LOEsei HAANGANA埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツ
SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
LOAsipeli MOALAクボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ
Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
FLViliami AFU KAIPOULI三重ホンダヒート
MIE Honda HEAT
FLTevita TUPOU花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
FLSione VATUVEIクボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ
Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
FLTalau FAKATAVAリコーブラックラムズ東京
RICOH BlackRams Tokyo
NO.8Lui NAEATANTTドコモレッドハリケーンズ大阪
NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES Osaka
NO.8Amato FAKATAVAリコーブラックラムズ東京
RICOH BlackRams Tokyo
SHShinnosuke TAFOKITAU OKA㈱スクラムヒューマンパワー
Scrum Human Power
SHKeitaro HITORA花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
SORichie HAVILI横浜キヤノンイーグルス
YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
SOLomano Lava LEMEKINECグリーンロケッツ東葛
NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu
CTBTaumoepeau SILIVENUSI豊田自動織機シャトルズ愛知
TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION SHUTTLES AICHI
CTBTonisio VAIHUNTTドコモレッドハリケーンズ大阪
NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES Osaka
CTBMifiposeti PAEANTTドコモレッドハリケーンズ大阪
NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES Osaka
CTBKruger LATU三菱重工相模原ダイナボアーズ
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES SAGAMIHARA DYNABOARS
WTBLarry SULUNGANTTドコモレッドハリケーンズ大阪
NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES Osaka
WTBMichael TOLOKE宗像サニックスブルース
MUNAKATA SANIX BLUES
WTBManoa LATU埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツ
SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
FBLiekina KAUFUSI花園近鉄ライナーズ
HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS

TEAM STAFF

TitleNameOrganization
ChairmanNofomuli TaumoefolauSaitama Institute of Technology University
Head CoachViliami Sinali LatuPanasonic Business Service
Forward CoachRyu Koliniasi HolaniSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
Forward CoachFeleti Touliki Mau VNF NAMOA TRADING
Backs CoachNataniela OtoToshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
Backs CoachLopeti OtoTOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Team DoctorTsukuru NakayaSelf-Defense Forces Central Hospital
Athletic Trainer Yuki Unno Sportsdou Johoku Orthopedic Clinic
TrainerYoshiaki Suehiro Suehiro Acupuncture Orthopedic Clinic
Forward Coach/ Team ManagerToetuu TaufaHANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
Team ManagerKenta TeramawariJapan Rugby Football Union
Team AssistantMiyuki MiyazakiJapan Rugby Football Union
Team AssitantMoena GotohJapan Rugby Football Union
PhotographerMasaaki Bingo Tonga Rugby Union

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