Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Tonga's Kyren Taumoefolau passes under pressure

Tonga go out with a win but Romania battle to the end

Tonga beat Romania 45-24 in the final Pool B game at the World Cup.

Kwagga Smith of South Africa scores the team's seventh try

South Africa edge towards quarters with win over Tonga

Defending champions South Africa saw off Tonga 49-18 to pick up a bonus-point win in Marseille which moved them temporarily top of Rugby World Cup Pool B.

Rugby • 02 Oct 23

Tonga's Afusipa Taumoepeau received a yellow card for this hit on Jamie Ritchie

World Cup officiating 'not good enough' - Townsend

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said the standard of officiating at the World Cup needs to improve after being left perplexed by the decision not to issue a red card to Tonga's Afusipa Taumoepeau for a high tackle that forced his captain Jamie Ritchie off and ruled him out of the Romania game.

Rugby World Cup • 24 Sep 23

Darcy Graham (R) put the icing on the cake for Scotland with the seventh and final try

Scotland beat Tonga to keep hopes alive in Irish pool

Scotland beat Tonga 45-17 in their World Cup Pool B match in Nice.

Rugby World Cup • 24 Sep 23

Rugby World Cup: Scotland 45-17 Tonga - recap

Scotland keep their hopes of emerging from Ireland's pool alive after a 45-17 bonus-point win over Tonga in Nice.

Rugby World Cup • 24 Sep 23

Bleyendaal promises Tonga will "fire some shots"

Assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal says Tonga intend to "really fire some shots" at the Rugby World Cup and warned Ireland's "well-oiled machine" to expect a bruising Pool B encounter in Nantes.

Rugby • 15 Sep 23

Dan Sheehan (L) and Robbie Henshaw were not in the Ireland squad for the Romania clash

Henshaw in frame to face Tonga - Easterby

Ireland expect Robbie Henshaw to be available for next weekend's Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga as part of a potentially fully-fit squad.

Rugby • 11 Sep 23

Wayne Barnes will referee Ireland's second pool game against Tonga

Referees named for Ireland's World Cup pool matches

The referees have been selected for Ireland's Rugby World Cup pool games with New Zealander Ben O'Keefe taking charge of the potentially pivotal game against reigning champions South Africa on 23 September.

Rugby • 22 Aug 23

Israel Folau misses out due to a knee injury

Injured Folau misses out on Tonga World Cup squad

Tonga will be without Israel Folau for the Rugby World Cup after the former Australia international was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Rugby World Cup • 22 Aug 23

Tonga brush aside Hong Kong to secure World Cup place

Tonga have qualified for next year's Rugby World Cup finals after crushing Hong Kong 44-22 on Australia's Sunshine Coast.

Rugby • 23 Jul 22

Israel Folau back in test rugby after Tonga selection

Israel Folau will return to test rugby for the first since he was sacked by Rugby Australia three years ago when Tonga take on Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday.

Rugby • 30 Jun 22

Israel Folau played 73 tests for Australia

Folau set for international rugby return with Tonga

Israel Folau will make his return to international rugby with Tonga, three years after his Wallabies contract was terminated over a controversial social media post.

Rugby • 27 May 22

England run in 11 tries in Tonga hammering

England responded to the loss of captain Owen Farrell to a positive Covid test by overwhelming Tonga 69-3 in their Autumn Nations Series opener.

Rugby • 06 Nov 21

Owen Farrell was due to win his 94th England cap on Saturday

England captain Farrell tests positive for Covid-19

England have encountered a major setback on the eve of their Autumn Nations Series clash with Tonga after captain Owen Farrell tested positive for Covid.

Rugby • 05 Nov 21

Toutai Kefu coached Tonga at the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup winner Kefu stabbed in home invasion

Rugby World Cup winner and Tonga coach Toutai Kefu was stabbed in the abdomen and several of his family members injured in a home invasion at his house in Brisbane in the early hours of Monday morning, Australian media reported.

Rugby • 16 Aug 21

Dalton Papalii of the All Blacks makes a break against Tonga

16-try All Blacks annihilate callow Tonga

Winger Will Jordan scored five tries as the All Blacks opened their 2021 campaign with a record-equalling 102-0 trouncing of an inexperienced Tonga side on Saturday at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium.

Rugby • 03 Jul 21

Tonga celebrate a famous win over Australia

Tonga stun rugby league world champions Australia

Tonga confirmed their arrival as a force in rugby league with a stunning 16-12 win over world champions Australia.

Rugby • 02 Nov 19

Late Tonga try sees US go home from World Cup pointless

Tonga picked up their first win of the World Cup, beating the USA 31-19 at Hanazono to send the Americans home without a point

Rugby • 13 Oct 19

Les Bleus survive Tongan scare to book last eight spot

France followed England into the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, but not before a scare against Tonga at Kumamoto.

Rugby • 07 Oct 19

Montoya hat-trick helps Argentina take care of Tonga

Argentina bounced back from their opening-round defeat to France with a 28-12 victory over Tonga in Osaka.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 28 Sep 19

Israle Folau had his contracted terminated by Rugby Australia earlier this year

Rugby League chiefs: No decision yet on Folau to Tonga

Israel Folau may be thwarted in his bid to play for Tonga in their rugby league internationals against Great Britain and his native Australia in October.

Rugby • 23 Sep 19

Manu Tuilagi was to the fore in England's victory

England fail to fire in dismissing Tonga

Manu Tuilagi powered England to a winning start as their World Cup was launched with a 35-3 victory over Tonga but the statement performance sought by Eddie Jones failed to materialise.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 22 Sep 19

England team in a huddle at the Sapporo Dome

England go with Lawes-Itoje partnership at lock

Eddie Jones has selected Courtney Lawes to play alongside Maro Itoje in the second row on Friday when he named a strong England side to face Tonga in Sunday's Rugby World Cup Pool C opener.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 20 Sep 19

Joe Launchbury will be fit for the opener against Tonga

Launchbury 'good to go' as English get rocking welcome

England lock Joe Launchbury has been given a clean bill of health after alarm was raised over a back injury sustained during Friday's World Cup send-off.

Rugby • 12 Sep 19

Cory Hill of Wales dives in for his sides seventh try

Wales turn on the style to comfortably beat Tonga

Wales extended their unbeaten run to eight games by crushing Tonga at the Principality Stadium.

Rugby • 17 Nov 18