Former All Blacks star Charles Piutau's dream for Tonga at the Rugby World Cup 2023
Former All Blacks star Charles Piutau vision big things for Tonga as the Pacific islands take part in the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France next year. While "Ikale Tahi" still doesn't qualify for rugby's global showcase, a playoff series win against Hong Kong, South Korea or Malaysia in the Asia/Pacific qualifiers looks set to secure their place in Pool B unavoidable. Rugby Fans can buy Rugby World Cup 2023 Tickets from our website.
Charles Piutau's vision for Tonga at the Rugby World Cup 2023 |
Not to mention the talent Tonga manager Toutai Kefu now possesses, as World Rugby has amended admissions laws, which came into effect on January 1.
After a three-year hiatus,
World Rugby has opened the door for a number of former international stars to
return to Test rugby by allowing Test-eligible players to switch countries to
which they are eligible through their birthrights.
One of them is Piutau, who
played the last of his 17 All Blacks tests in 2015 before heading to Europe to
accept several lucrative club contracts.
Not qualifying for the All
Blacks due to playing club rugby abroad, Piutau can now return to international
rugby with his parents' home country Tonga and the country he represented at
U20 level in 2010.
The 30-year-old isn't the
only well-known name to join "Ikale Tahi" after World Rugby changed
the rules.
A group of former All-Blacks
and wallabies — Israel Folau, Adam Coleman, Vaea Fifita, George Moala, Malakai
Fekitoa, Sekope Kepu, Augustine Pulu and Atu Moli — have qualified or will
qualify for Tonga by the end of 2022. Played Test rugby for years.
Piutau exposed the impact he wants Ikale Tahi to make at the RWC 2023 |
Similarly, Samoa will benefit greatly from the change in law, but Piutau is especially hopeful about how the revised world rugby law will affect Tonga.
Speaking to Pacific Beat on
ABC, Piutau exposed the impact he wants Ikale Tahi to make at the Rugby World
Cup 2023, just like their Rugby League rival Mate Ma'a Tonga did in the 2017
Rugby League World Cup.
That match was a revelation
as Tonga defeated New Zealand in the semi-finals and defeated England in
seconds.
Their dreams were tales of
competition and stories from audiences around the world, but it was NRL stars
who transformed international loyalty, most notably former New Zealander Jason
Taumalolo, who drove Tonga's success.
Piutau told Pacific Beat
that he imagines Ikale Tahi will generate similar publicity if the
aforementioned names combine and add depth to the talent already visible in
Tonga's squad ahead of next year's World Cup.
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