Dragons RFC duo Fetuli Paea and Fine Inisu both started as Tonga kicked off their Pacific Nations Cup 2025 challenge with a dominant 30-16 win over Manu Samoa at Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa, to put their bid for Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification firmly on the front foot.
The hosts raced into a 17-0 lead in their first international of the year, a week after beating Queensland Reds in their only warm-up outing of 2025.
Siosuia Moala got the scoreboard rolling with seven minutes on the clock and scrum-half Sonatane Takulua doubled their try-scoring advantage with 25 minutes on the clock as he won the race to a loose ball.
The visitors threatened an unlikely comeback when winger Tuna Tuitama was on the end of Melani Nanai’s lovely offload to score in the corner as Samoa finally broke their try duck with an hour on the clock. But they struggled all match in the set-piece, and with Tonga’s direct, solid and powerful game plan.
ʻIkale Tahi replacement Sam Moli was at the back of an unstoppable maul shortly after the hour to take the match out of reach. Nanai’s diving finish to a spectacular Samoa strike from halfway was only ever going to be defiant consolation.
Tonga travel to Suva next weekend to face Fiji. Congratulations to both our Dragons!
