About 120 under 15 youths from Sydney and country New South Wales will come to the Kingdom of Tonga in October. Sydneysider John Kavanagh, who is in Tonga representing Discovery Tours at the inaugural ’Eva Mai Tourism Exchange, highlighted that the Aussies will play rugby against local under 15 teams.

The first team will be made up of 60 people, with 30 players and officials and 30 supporters and parents from New South Wales Country Rugby Union and Sydney Rugby Union. The first team will be in the Kingdom of Tonga from 4 to 10 October and they will stay at Liku’alofa Beach Resort and the Janfull International Dateline Hotel. They will play three games in Tongatapu against the Tonga Combine Country Team, the Tonga Combine City Team and the Tonga U15 National Team.

The second under 15 team hails from Linfield Rugby Union Club in Sydney. They will have a party of 30, with 25 players and 5 officials. They will play Tonga College U15, as well as Tupou College U15. This team will stay at Liku’alofa Beach Resort.

The third team is from Blacktown Rugby Union Club in Sydney and there will be 30 people in the team. Arrangements are currently being made to finalise the dates and the games.

Before the Aussies arrive, Mr Steve Hamson, who works for the Australian Rugby Union and looks after the Country Junior Rugby. Mr Hamson will touch down in the Kingdom of Tonga in April to inspect Tonga’s facilities and find ways to improve future Rubgy tours.

Mr Kavanagh, who is a specialist in sports tours, said that he anticipates that more teams from Australia will come to Tonga after Mr Hamson’s April visit.

Mr Kavanagh has worked hard over the years to bring Rugby youths from Australia to Tonga, and the Ministry is working hard to ensure that his loyalty to Tonga is professionally handled every step of the way.