Sports coaching and Teaching Project in the Kingdom of Tonga
With their athletic physiques, Tongans, like all Polynesians, are perfectly built for rugby and football and they are games that they have taken to the heart of their national pride and consciousness since it was introduced by Missionaries in the Nineteenth Century. Tonga's national Rugby team, the Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles) recently took part in the World Cup and although they did not perform particularly well, there were a vast number of Tongans representing a myriad of countries at the World Cup - George Smith, Doug Howlett and Carl Hoeft amongst others. Exporting rugby players is one way in which Tonga has put itself on the map and arguably the most famous rugby player in the history of the game (OK well at least before 'that' kick), Jonah Lomu, is Tongan by birth.
Rugby is the number one game played by high school students in Tonga and as such, the rivalry amongst the 1st XV teams is very strong, and the games between schools are taken very seriously. Crowds of up to five thousand people gather every Friday afternoon at the Teufaiva stadium (the national stadium) during the school rugby season to watch the various teams take each other on as they fight to be the National School champions, making most of the school players minor celebrities. It is not only at First team level that the competition is taken seriously and you will enjoy watching and coaching boys from the ages of 11 up to 18, most probably discovering a host of new Lomus as you go along.
Accommodation
You will stay in the Sortventurer house on the outskirts of Nuku-alofa on the main island of Tonga'tapu. Although it may not be up to English standards, the houses are all very comfortable, the only drawback being that none of them have hot water, a nightmare for those early morning showers but great after a day in the sun! During your stay, all of the players and teachers will look after you, often inviting you round to theirs for meals and to drink the South Pacific's favourite drink, kava, a mild narcotic that is central to all South Pacific cultures.
Support
Before you go you will receive 2 pre-departure packs. The first contains information on how to raise the cost of your Sportventurer placement through sponsorship, further information concerning the placement, vaccination requirements and other health issues, a kit list and all necessary travel information. Four weeks before you depart we will send you details and information relevant to your initial arrival at the overseas airport and coaching advice.
Once in Tonga you will be met at the airport by one of our crew. During the first couple of days they will show you the key places: banks, hospitals, internet cafes etc.. they will also spend time with you discussing your coaching placement. By attending the first couple of training sessions with another club you and your crew will be able to establish at exactly what level you are going to coach at. The crew are there at all times to make sure that your placement is a success. They are also there to make sure that if you fall ill or experience other problems that you are looked after. They are in frequent contact with Sportventurer HQ in the UK and can be contacted at anytime in case of an emergency.
2006 Sportventurer Tonga Dates
Fiji and Tonga Project Dates 2006 |
Sports Projects Available |
Jan 9th - Feb 10th |
Rugby |
Feb 13th - Mar 17th |
Rugby |
Mar 20th - April 21st |
Rugby |
April 24nd - May 26th |
Rugby |
| May 29th - June 30th | Rugby |
July 3rd - Aug 4th |
Rugby |
Aug 7th - Sept 8th |
Rugby |
Sportventurer South Pacific Project Costs
Fiji and Tonga Project Duration |
Project Only Cost |
4 weeks |
£1,450 |
Each additional week |
£125 |
2 week Sports Team Tour |
£940 |
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Capital City
Nuku'alofa.
Population
101,000.
Language
English & Tongan.
Greeting
Malo e lei.
Religion
Chatholic, Protestant, Morman.
Currency
Tonga Pa'anga
Price of a beer
70p
Climate
Mild tropical. Humid and Wet. Dry May-Oct.
Famous for
Rugby, Whale Watching & the first land in the world to see the sun rise!
