For Tonga, rugby's heart and friendships are alive and well

When the practice session for the Tongan ‘Sipi Tau’ was posted on social media this week, a worried thought ran through the minds of those taking on the warrior challenge just before kick-off at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The old and bold of the Vintage Reds reasoned that running on as a replacement five minutes after that emotional kick-off ceremony was probably the best and safest time to join the fray.

While everyone has seen Tongan players play with fun in their hearts and a smile on their faces, the idea of fun on a rugby field has different meanings.

Fun for Tongan rugby players is still a thumping hit or running over the top of you.

The tyre marks after being steamrolled are all for a good cause and that’s all that really matters for this special 5pm (AEST) fundraising match for the UNICEF Australia Tongan Recovery Appeal.

This may be the opening weekend of Super Rugby Pacific but this charity match between the Vintage Reds and Tongan Invitational XV is something special.

The speed at which a roll call of retired stars put their hands up to help Tonga’s recovery efforts after January’s devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami was tremendous.

Queensland coach Brad Thorn will make a surprise return from the bench for a Vintage Reds side that includes four former Wallabies captains: Stephen Moore, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill and Ben Mowen.

Brad Thorn (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Flyhalf Berrick Barnes, flanker David Croft, pacy winger Rod Davies, recently retired No.8 Scott Higginbotham and insatiable 1990s back Pat Howard are also among those on board.

Stan Sport commentator Drew Mitchell has to stay unscarred or it will be a lengthy visit to the make-up room before on-air work on the Queensland Reds-Melbourne Rebels game.

Broad Samoan hooker Trevor Leota, former Wallaby winger Digby Ioane, the ageless Andrew Walker, flanker deluxe George Smith, 21-Test Tongan prop Tevita Mailau, Radike Samo and his afro, former All Black Hosea Gear plus many more will represent the Tongan Invitational side.

No.8 Criff Tupou, the brother of current Reds prop Taniela, will come off the bench, as will dual-code star Lote Tuqiri.

“When we saw that the Tongan team had a training run and Trevor Leota was giving it a ‘let’s go’ call, we did have guys wondering what they’d signed on for,” Vintage Reds skipper David Croft said with a laugh.

“The idea of playing any Tongan side for fun doesn’t stack up.

“The banter has been priceless. (Former Wallaby) John Roe is a doc and he’s promised to be there to stitch anyone up who needs it.

“It’s been suggested we need full gridiron padding.

“Truthfully, it’s great to get back together, some of us for the first time in 10 years, for an even greater cause.”

Our experts Brett McKay, Harry Jones and Geoff Parkes cast their eye over the Super Rugby contenders in episode 1 of our new podcast. Click below to play or follow on Spotify.

Now 42, Reds legend Croft is 15kg lighter than his playing days at 103kg but he is in the minority with some big frames set to rumble onto Suncorp Stadium.

Wallabies great Toutai Kefu will coach the Tongan outfit while younger brothers Steve and Mafi will play.

“The training session was more about practicing the Sipi Tau. We have created a new one called Pacific United which will mix influences from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Maori culture,” Steve Kefu said.

“Toutai told all of us not to go too hard at touch rugby or we’d injury ourselves for the main event.”

For the Tongan-born Toutai Kefu, the cause is deeply personal: “So many people in the rugby community have been touched by the disaster in Tonga and I encourage everyone to donate what they can to the UNICEF Australia Tongan Recovery Appeal.”

The match will comprise of two 20-minute halves. Over $70,000 has already been raised by the Queensland Rugby community for the Appeal.

Donations can be made here.

The Charity Match will be broadcast in full on Stan Sport following full-time of the Reds match.

Vintage Reds XV v Tongan Invitational XV, Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 5pm (AEST):

Vintage Reds XV
1. Sean Hardman
2. Stephen Moore
3. Guy Shepardson
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Ben Mowen
7. David Croft
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Nick Frisby
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Rodney Davies
12. Dallan Murphy
13. Drew Mitchell
14. Pat Howard
15. Lachlan Turner
16. Mark Chisolm
17. Sam Cordingley
18. Tim Atkinson
19. Tom McVerry
20. Tom Court
21. Mark Connors
22. Andrew Farley
23. Adam Wallace-Harrison
24. Ernest Skelton
25. Nick Gregorski
26. Mitch Chapman
27. Brad Thorn

Coach – Dan Herbert
Manager – Bill Ross
Assistant Coach/Water boy – Dan Crowley
Assistant Coach/Water boy – Elton Flatley
Assistant Coach/Water boy – Peter Hynes
Doctor – John Roe

Tongan Invitational XV
1. Tevita Mailau
2. Trevor Leota
3. David Feao
4. Dan Leo
5. Radike Samo
6. Simana Halaifonua
7. George Smith
8. Lolo Fakaosilea
9. Jacob Raulini
10. Shane Drahm
11. Hosea Gear
12. Mafileo Kefu
13. Lloyd Johansson
14. Digby Ioane
15. Andrew Walker
16. Eddie Aholelei
17. Salesi Manu
18. Criff Tupou
19. Paula Kaho
20. Matt Mafi
21. Richard Kingi
22. Steve Kefu
23. Pila Fifita
24. Lote Tuqiri
25. Aidan Toua

Coach – Toutai Kefu
Manager – Anthony Joseph
Promoter andamp; MC – Barry Lea
Assistant Manager – Ben Cannon
Assistant Coach – Moses Rauluni
Assistant Coach – Anthony Fainga’a
Assistant Coach – Tevita Koloi
Water boy – Pita Tauatofua Jr
Water boy – Peter Tautua
Physio – Geoff Clark