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Kennel Legend
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37 mins ago
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Tonga is officially out of the International Rugby League Federation, with the Tongan Board fallout from last year still unresolved.
It’s been a frenetic 12 months for Mate Ma'a.
Back in September, Tonga's emergence as an international powerhouse was under threat with a dramatic player boycott, with allegations surrounding $50,000 worth of match payments which players requested to be injected into junior development back in Tonga.
Still, in September the NRL withdrew its invitation for the world’s fourth-ranked Test nation to participate in the World Cup 9s.
A deal was eventually struck between the players and the organisers, which saw them compete under the banner of 'Tonga Invitational'.
The news came in the wake of the (RLIF) voting to replace the current Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) board – ending Israel Folau’s hopes of a rugby league return for Tonga.
In November, Tonga became just the 5th side to beat Australia in a test match since 1908 - feat Jason Taumalolo ranked higher than his 2015 premiership win.
The Tonga National Rugby League has been suspended since October, after it sacked national head coach Kristian Woolf.
The RLIF issued a statement overnight outlining their position and giving Tonga a week to appeal the decision.
At its Board meeting on 13 February, the Directors carefully considered the position of Tonga National Rugby League, which has been suspended since October 2019, in the light of a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders in the Tongan game. After that meeting, the Board wrote to TNRL, advising them of the resolution passed at that meeting, which is to expel TNRL from the membership. There is a process within the IRL constitution for dealing with membership issues, which IRL is following. TNRL has one week to appeal the Board’s decision. Should it choose to do so, the matter will be decided by the members in general meeting.
More to come
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...-a-week-to-appeal/ar-BB1063IA?ocid=spartandhp
Tonga is officially out of the International Rugby League Federation, with the Tongan Board fallout from last year still unresolved.
It’s been a frenetic 12 months for Mate Ma'a.
Back in September, Tonga's emergence as an international powerhouse was under threat with a dramatic player boycott, with allegations surrounding $50,000 worth of match payments which players requested to be injected into junior development back in Tonga.
Still, in September the NRL withdrew its invitation for the world’s fourth-ranked Test nation to participate in the World Cup 9s.
A deal was eventually struck between the players and the organisers, which saw them compete under the banner of 'Tonga Invitational'.
The news came in the wake of the (RLIF) voting to replace the current Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) board – ending Israel Folau’s hopes of a rugby league return for Tonga.
In November, Tonga became just the 5th side to beat Australia in a test match since 1908 - feat Jason Taumalolo ranked higher than his 2015 premiership win.
The Tonga National Rugby League has been suspended since October, after it sacked national head coach Kristian Woolf.
The RLIF issued a statement overnight outlining their position and giving Tonga a week to appeal the decision.
At its Board meeting on 13 February, the Directors carefully considered the position of Tonga National Rugby League, which has been suspended since October 2019, in the light of a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders in the Tongan game. After that meeting, the Board wrote to TNRL, advising them of the resolution passed at that meeting, which is to expel TNRL from the membership. There is a process within the IRL constitution for dealing with membership issues, which IRL is following. TNRL has one week to appeal the Board’s decision. Should it choose to do so, the matter will be decided by the members in general meeting.
More to come
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...-a-week-to-appeal/ar-BB1063IA?ocid=spartandhp
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