Tonga national netball team

Tonga

Nickname(s)	Tonga Tala
Association	Tonga Netball Association
Confederation	Oceania Netball Federation
World ranking	8
Team colours
Netball World Cup
Appearances	2
2015 placing	8th
Best result	8th (2023)

The Tonga national netball team (Tongan: timi netipolo fakafonua ʻa Tonga) represents Tonga in international women's netball. Although netball has been played in Tonga, they joined the International Netball Federation in 2011.[1][2] Tonga won bronze at the South Pacific Games in 1983, 1991 and 1995. On 21 July 2019, Tonga Re-entered at nineteenth in the INF World Rankings.

In June 2022 the team was renamed the Tonga Tala.[3]

They were undefeated at the 2023 Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers, and qualified for the 2023 Netball World Cup.[4][5] Following the qualifiers they were ranked 9th in the world.[6] In March 2023 they rose to 7th ranked following the PacificAus Series.[7]

Current squad

Tongan netball team for the 2023 Netball World Cup:[8][9]

Tonga roster
Players	Coaches
Name Pos DOB Height Club Nat Caps Luana Aukafolau – Lose Fainga’anuku – Lucia Fau’onuku – City West Falcons Mo'onia Gerrard 15 November 1980 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Marie Hansen – Kelela Iongi – Jessyka Ngauamo 3 December 1995 – Beyonce Palavi GA – City West Falcons Uneeq Palavi GS – City West Falcons Silia Setefano – Peti Talanoa – Salote Taufa – Central Manawa Valu Toutaiolepo – Cathrine Tuivaiti 25 October 1986 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Gold Coast Titans Hulita Veve 14 September 1995 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	Head coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson Notes (c) – Captain (cc) – Co-captain (vc) – Vice-captain – Injury / maternity leave (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: [ Team website]	Last updated: 20 June 2023

Competitive history

Netball World Cup
Year	Championship	Location	Placing
1999	10th World Championships	Christchurch, New Zealand	22nd
2023	16th World Cup	Cape Town, South Africa	8th

Pacific Games
Year	Games	Event	Location	Placing
1983	VII Games	Netball	Apia, Samoa	3rd
1991	IX Games	Netball	Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea	3rd
1995	X Games	Netball	Papeete, Tahiti	3rd
2003	XII Games	Netball	Suva, Fiji	5th
2015	XV Games	Netball	Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea	5th
2019	XVI Games	Netball	Apia, Samoa	2nd
2023	XVII Games	Netball	Honiara, Solomon Islands	1st

Pacific Mini Games
Year	Games	Event	Location	Placing
1985	II Games	Netball	Rarotonga, Cook Islands	3rd
1993	IV Games	Netball	Port Vila, Vanuatu	4th
2009	VIII Games	Netball	Rarotonga, Cook Islands	5th
2017	X Games	Netball	Port Vila, Vanuatu	2nd

See also

• Netball in Tonga

References

1. Ian (7 July 2015). "Tonga to make netball history at Pacific Games". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
2. mynetball.co.nz (Oceania Netball Federation) (October 2011). "Welcome Tonga Netball Association" (PDF). Retrieved 18 July 2015.
3. "Tonga's National Netball team royally appointed new name that's a 'good omen'". ABC. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
4. "Tongan Tala qualify for Netball World Cup finals for first time". 1News. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
5. "Triumphant Tala takes Tonga to first ever Netball World Cup". Matangi Tonga. 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
6. "Tonga Netball ranks 9th in world". Matangi Tonga. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
7. "Tonga moves up to 7th place in World Netball rankings". Matangi Tonga. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
8. "Strong Tonga National Netball Team for 2023 World Cup". Matangi Tonga. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023.
9. "Sporting royalty line up for Tonga world cup teams". RNZ. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.