One-time minnows Tonga and Samoa now star World Cup attractions
Tonga and Samoa, once regarded as minnows of rugby league, are now top-drawer attractions at the Rugby League World Cup.
Last week, Toa Samoa delivered a crushing 78-4 victory over France at the men's Rugby League World Cup, marking their largest-ever win. Despite the game's low-key time slot, 13,000 spectators turned out to support the team. In a similar vein, Fiji and the Cook Islands played each other in Newcastle, drawing over 10,000 fans and 1.7 million television viewers.
This surge in popularity is attributed to the growing strength of Samoa and Tonga's teams, fueled by their diaspora communities in Australia. The Australian Rugby League's recent rule change allowing players with cultural ties to multiple nations to represent the country of their choice has played a pivotal role in this transformation.
Notable examples include Jason Taumalolo and Salesi Foketi, who chose to represent Samoa due to their familial ties. The increased interest in the tournament is expected to continue, with the next matchup between Samoa and Tonga in Sydney drawing sold-out crowds.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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