Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu has announced his squad to face Romania in Lille on Sunday, with most-capped player Sonatane Takulua (pictured) returning at scrum-half to captain the team.
1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
2 Paula Ngauamo
3 Ben Tameifuna
4 Halaleva Fifita
5 Adam Coleman
6 Semisi Paea
7 Sione Talitui
8 Sione Vailanu
9 Sonatane Takulua (c)
10 William Havili
11 Afusipa Taumoepeau
12 Pita Ahki
13 George Moala
14 Solomone Kata
15 Salesi Piutau
Replacements:
16 Sione Anga'aelangi
17 Paula Latu
18 Siate Tokolahi
19 Sitiveni Mafi
20 Penitoa Finau
21 Manusiu Paea
22 Patrick Pellegrini
23 Kyren Taumoefolau
• Former All Black George Moala is set to make a belated Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 32 after serving a five-match suspension in a starting XV showing six changes of personnel and one positional switch. Moala replaces another ex-All Black, Malakai Fekitoa, at centre.
• Ahki and full-back Salesi Piutau are the only ever-presents for Tonga at this Rugby World Cup, having played in all 240 minutes of their matches to date.
• Former Wallaby Adam Coleman makes his first start of RWC 2023 after two bench appearances, the day after his 32nd birthday, in the only change to the front-five of the pack.
• Tonga’s most-capped player, Sonatane Takulua is handed his first start of the tournament at scrum-half, partnering William Havili and captaining the team.
• Tight-head Ben Tameifuna, who relinquishes the captaincy, is the only prop to have scored two tries in this year’s Rugby World Cup and has made more carries (10.7) and beaten more defenders (2.7) per 80 minutes than any other prop in the competition (for a minimum of 160 minutes played).
• Openside Sione Havili Talitui has made at least eight more tackles than any other player in this year’s Rugby World Cup (60).
