Tonga is now in the top five rugby league nations.
The Mate Ma’a won four games in a row and came within one disputed try of tackling
Australia in the grand final.
The kingdom has already rewarded the Mate Ma’a with royal honours and now the Rugby
League International Federation has moved the team from 11 th place to fourth, a jump of
seven places.
Of the other Pacific nations, Fiji now sits in fifth place, with Samoa sixth and Papua New
Guinea 10th.
Federation chief David Collier described Tonga as one of the major movers in this year’s
competition who had “lit up” the World cup.”
Tonga head coach Kristian Woolf described the Mate Ma’a’s promotion as a “just reward”
for their efforts.
He said the Tongan team wants to challenge the three top teams again before the next
World Cup in 2021.
“It is something we want to continue, with the opportunity to be involved in more
international games in the future and the ability to compete against the top three nations,” Woolf said.
The top 10 Rugby League teams in the world are:
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Tonga
5. Fiji
6. Samoa
7, Scotland
8. France
9. Lebanon
10. Papua New Guinea.
The main points
- Tonga is now in the top five rugby league nations.
- The kingdom has already rewarded the Mate Ma’a with royal honours and now the
Rugby League International Federation has moved the team from 11th place to
fourth, a jump of seven places. - Of the other Pacific nations, Fiji now sits in fifth place, with Samoa sixth and Papua
New Guinea 10th.
For more information
Kiwis remain second in rugby league world rankings, Tonga rise to fourth
