With the 2015 Rugby World Cup fast approaching, Last Word on Sports looks back at how the participating nations have fared in the previous seven tournaments from the inaugural in 1987 to the most recent in 2011. Today’s focus is Tonga, who have appeared at six of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: Tonga
1987
Tonga were one of the nine invited nations that competed with the seven International Rugby Football Board members at the first Rugby World Cup. Drawn in Pool 2 with Wales, Ireland and Canada, Tonga got off to an inauspicious start losing their first game 37-4 to Canada. Things improved slightly for Tonga in their second game but they were still on the wrong side of a 29-16 loss to Wales. A 32-9 defeat to Ireland in their final pool match rounded out a winless World Cup for Tonga.
1991
Qualification for the 1991 Rugby World Cup was split between the eight quarter finalists from 1987, who qualified automatically, and eight countries who qualified via regional tournaments. Tonga faced off against Japan, Western Samoa and South Korea in the Asia and Oceanic qualifying group. With the top two teams in the group qualifying for the finals, Tonga’s campaign did not get off to the best of starts losing their opening match to Japan. A loss to Western Samoa in their second game put World Cup qualification beyond Tonga, however a 45-22 win over South Korea in their final match gave Tonga some consolation.
1995
With Australia, New Zealand and Western Samoa all qualifying automatically for the 1995 World Cup, qualification for the Oceanic group came down to a home and away tie between Tonga and Fiji. Tonga emerged victorious 34-26 on aggregate to advance to the finals. Tonga faced France, Scotland and Ivory Coast in Pool D, but got off to a disappointing start to their campaign going down 38-10 to France. Tonga fared no better in their second game against Scotland this time losing 41-5. Tonga did however achieve their first Rugby World Cup victory in their final pool game against Ivory Coast, running out 29-11 winners.
1999
Tonga qualified for the final round of Oceanic qualifying, beating the Cook Islands to finish runners up to Fiji to whom they lost. Facing Fiji, Australia and Western Samoa, Tonga struggled, losing all three matches and would have to come through the repechage to qualify for the finals. Tonga won the repechage without too much difficulty defeating Georgia in the semi finals before going on to beat South Korea to advance to the finals. Drawn in a tough Pool with New Zealand, England and Italy, Tonga lost their opening game to the All Blacks 45-9. A narrow 28-25 win over Italy in their second game gave Tonga a chance to qualify for the quarter finals, if they could beat England in their final pool game. Unfortunately Tonga were no match for England as the English ran rampant winning 101-10 to eliminate Tonga.
2003
After losing to both Fiji and Samoa in their qualifying group, Tonga defeated Papua New Guinea to qualify for the repechage tournament. Facing familiar qualifying opposition South Korea, Tonga were comfortable winners over the two legs winning 194-0 on aggregate to qualify. Facing Italy, Wales, Canada and New Zealand in Pool D, Tonga suffered a setback at the start of the campaign as Italy gained revenge for their defeat four years previous to defeat Tonga 36-12. Tonga then lost a tight game to Wales before being thumped 91-7 by New Zealand. A 24-7 loss to Canada in their final pool match meant Tonga finished winless at a World Cup for only the second time.
2007
The repechage would once again be the route to the World Cup for Tonga, as like in 2003 they were beaten by Samoa and Fiji to enter the playoff, this time defeating the Cook Islands to progress. In the repechage Tonga would once again face South Korea, this time in a one off game in New Zealand, and history repeated itself in this round too, with Tonga winning comfortably 85-3. Drawn in Pool A against South Africa, England, Samoa and the USA, Tonga got off to a good start winning their opening game against the USA 25-15. Tonga then followed this up by beating Pacific rivals Samoa 15-19, before running South Africa close eventually going down 30-25. As in 1999 a final game against England would see the winner advance to the quarter finals. Although the score was closer on this occasion the result was the same as England defeated Tonga 36-20, however by finishing third in the pool Tonga qualified automatically for the 2011 World Cup.
2011
Drawn in Pool A against New Zealand, France, Canada and Japan, Tonga had a tough start facing hosts New Zealand in their opening match. Unable to match the All Blacks, Tonga were defeated 41-10. Tonga then lost a tight game 25-20 to Canada before bouncing back to defeat Japan 31-18. Tonga then produced a shock in their final game beating France 19-14 in their final pool game. However despite finishing with same number of wins and losses as the French, France advanced due to the fact that they had two more bonus points, and Tonga had to console themselves with third place and automatic qualification for 2015.
Tonga have been a developing force at the Rugby World Cup, barring one or two hiccups getting better with each World Cup. Capable of mixing it with the big nations on their day Tonga have been knocking at the door of the quarter finals for the last two World Cups, and will enter the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the aim of breaking it down and making the knockout stages.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
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