Rugby
Test For Both Teams
Rugby Canada hosted the Pacific Nations Cup over the BC Day Long Weekend, where three impressive games were played and the day’s events kicked-off at 11, with the first match take place between Japan and Tonga.
Rugby was introduced to Japan in 1899 and Japan’s first international was a match against a Canadian team in 1932. Notable games for Japan include a victory over the Junior All Blacks in 1968, and a narrow 6–3 loss to England in 1971.
The Japan National Rugby team is often know as the Cherry Blossoms, but recently they have changed it to the Brave Blossoms
In 2007 Japan played Canada to a 12 – 12 draw in the Rugby World Cup, which was their second best result in that tournament.
In 2011 Japan won the IRB Pacific Nations Cup after defeating Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
Traditionally Japan is the strongest rugby union power in Asia while at the same time enjoying and enduring some mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years.
Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union, which was founded in 1926.
Annually they compete in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Asian Five Nations.
They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987.
They have only won one game at the tournament and that was against Zimbabwe in 1991.
The Tonga National Rugby Union team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Sipi Tau.
They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa.
Rugby was brought to the region in the early 20th Century by sailors and missionaries and the Tonga Rugby Football Union was formed in late 1923, that saw them (Tonga) defeat Fiji 9–6 in their first real test in 1924 in the capital Nukuʻalofa.
As strong as they thought they were, Tonga lost the second test 14–3 and drew the decider 0–0.
Between 1924 and 1938 Tonga and Fiji played three test series every alternate year.
Matches between the two Pacific nations were hard fought; many have claimed that the ancient feuding wars between the Islanders were transplanted onto the rugby field.
Troubles during the third Test of Fiji’s 1928 tour to Tonga forced the game to be abandoned with Tonga leading 11–8. In 1954 Tonga played host to a touring Western Samoa.
The first Tongan tour to Great Britain was in 1974 when they played 10 games, including those in Wales against East Wales, North Wales, Newport, West Wales and a Wales XV.
The only tour victory was by 18–13 in the opener against East Wales
In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, winning 2 of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, in one of the most memorable and exciting games of the tournament, eventually going down 30–25.
On 24 November 2012, Tonga beat Scotland 21-15 for their first victory over a traditional rugby power on a European pitch.