Tonga Rugby Union pleased to share a significant and positive development for the growth of girls’ rugby in Tonga. Following recent discussions, the Hon. Minister of Education and Training, Dr. Mo’ale ‘Otunuku, has officially lifted the ban that has been in place for almost 20 years on girls playing rugby at Tonga High School (THS).
This marks an important step forward in creating more opportunities for young women in our game, particularly within government schools.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Hon. Minister for his leadership and support, and the Tonga High School Principal and leadership for their willingness to move forward. All those involved in advocating for this change, including our development team and key stakeholders.
Earlier this year, Tonga Rugby Union began engaging Tonga High School through alternative pathways, including our DFAT Rise Rugby initiative, working alongside the school’s Home Economics program to introduce innovative ways to support girls in rugby.
With this decision, we now look forward to:
- Establishing structured training environments for girls at THS and other schools.
- Building a strong intra-school rugby hub
- Continuing to grow participation through safe, progressive pathways into the game.
This is more than just a return to play, it is a step towards greater inclusion, development, and opportunity for girls across Tonga. Tonga Rugby Union remains committed to working closely with the Ministry of Education and all schools to ensure rugby is delivered in a safe, supportive, and empowering environment.
