The stage is set for the PacificAus Sports 2022 Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy. Tonga U20 Captain, Manu ‘Ahokovi, and Jnr Manu Samoa Captain, Benjamin Faavae meet yesterday at the Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon for the traditional Captains Photo.
The Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon or The Burden of Maui is a stone trilithon located in Tonga, on the eastern part of the island of Tongatapu, in the village of Niutōua, in Heketā. It was built in the 13th century by King Tuʻitātui in honor of his two sons. The monument is commonly referred to as the ‘Stonehenge of the Pacific’.
The annual Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy, introduced in 2015, is a key qualification competition providing pathways for age grade teams. Teams from across the region are eligible to participate, excluding teams already qualified to the World Rugby U20 Championship. The 2022 edition of the event will be played across two match days, the first being Tuesday 29 November at Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa where the Tonga U20 team will host the Jnr Manu Samoa for the first of two matches being held this week.
The annual competition was the last regional competition held in 2020 prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 within the region. The one match tournament saw Samoa run out victorious against Tonga 36-3. The hosts will be looking to use the home ground crowd to their advantage to reverse that scoreline this year.
Through the support of the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program the 2022 Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy will increase to a two-match competition. PacificAus Sports works to create greater engagement between Australia and the Pacific through our shared love of sport by developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to play in high-level Australian sporting competitions; for Australian sporting codes to increase their presence in the Pacific; and for emerging athletes to benefit from Australian training and competitions
Referee David Vosalevu will be taking charge of the match assisted by Soko Sayakimoce and Sione Lavaka
The 2022 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Trophy kicks off at 3pm local time at the Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa.
All matched will be broadcast on Pacifika TV
Ticket prices $50.00 VIP | $10.00 Grandstand | $5.00 GA
