For the first time in nearly a decade, Tonga will proudly return to the international Oztag arena with seven teams confirmed to attend the 2025 International Tag Series (ITS) this August.
After being absent from all international competitions since 2015, Tonga’s return is a major milestone not just for the players involved, but for the wider Tongan community, both in Australia and abroad. What began as a plan to enter two or three teams quickly grew beyond expectation following an overwhelming response to Expressions of Interest. Tonga will now be represented in Women’s Open, Women’s 20s, Mixed 20s, Mixed Open, Men’s 20s, Men’s Open, and Men’s 30s divisions.
Leading the Men’s 30s is Junior Lax Ahio, a former Tagaroos representative and co-captain of the Australian Men’s 30s team that won the 2023 Tag World Cup in Ireland. Now stepping into a player/coach role, Junior is embracing the opportunity to represent his heritage and play a vital role in re-establishing Tonga Oztag on the global stage.
“For me and my people, this is a huge achievement, something I didn’t think would ever happen,” Junior shared.
The road back hasn’t been easy. A lack of volunteers and resources had made it difficult for Tonga to sustain a representative pathway over the years. But with the 2026 Tag World Cup on the horizon, this ITS appearance is being seen as the first crucial step toward long-term growth and national representation.
“This return not only provides a rep pathway both locally and abroad,” said Junior, “but it gives aspiring young Tongans a platform to develop their skills, with hopes of one day making it to the NRL or NRLW.”
Looking forward, the team has ambitions to expand into more divisions by the World Cup, and discussions are underway around running development clinics in Tonga to nurture local talent and build a sustainable support network, similar to the impact Tonga has made in the international rugby league space.
Tonga’s return is more than a good news story. It’s a signal of what’s possible when culture, pride, and opportunity come together. We’re honoured to have them back.