Rugby World Cup Fever hits TONGA supporting the 'IKALE TAHI

Tonga is a small nation with approximately 120 000 people, but boy can they be loud and proud when excited. In the last 3 weeks leading up to tonights Opening Ceremony, the parliment in Tonga has declared "Red Friday" to support the 'IKALE TAHI, the Tongan World Cup Rugby Team. From government departments, schools, commerical enterprises big and small, the local shops, houses, hotels, cars, buses, trucks, parks and the pubs - everyone has jumped on the red band wagon. It is wonderful to be part of such excitment. Cars are covered in balloons tooting their horns when they see a similar vehicle, and groups of Tongans start singing and dancing when they come across another group of similarily attired people. The team even has its own song which has been played non stop on the radio. Our friend "Rugby John" is the technical advisor on the coaching staff and he left with the team on Monday, with hundreds of supporters at the airport to see them off. His wife Jen (O.D.D.) and the kids have left to join him and we are very jealous.

The NZ news has shown continous coverage of the team arriving in Auckland, greeted by even more hundreds of Tongan fans up to the kilt in red and white. Some have even declared Auckland the new Tonga town. Everyone here is very proud of them all and only hope in the opening match tonight against the All Blacks that they get some points on the board. Good Luck and Go! 'Ikale Tahi GO!

Team Tonga Quirke style,1. Jodie in her RWC Jersey signed by the team (thanks John), 2. the jersey and team photos, 3. Lyndon in his supporters shirt.

1. Dressing up the Tonga Water Board office, 2. this house is typical of the support banners around town, 3. the RED army hanging around town signing the team song.

1. This is typical on the streets at the moment, 2. trucks and vans all dressed up and the flag waving. 3. The tug boat even got in on the act.

1. The Korean Embassay, 2. the customs house car park, 3. the Westpac Bank of Tonga.

1. Emily outside our little supermarket, 2. the vegetable marketi, 3. and 1 of only 6 roundabouts in Tonga, decorated by Tonga Power.

1. One of the local backyard BBQ huts, 2. our best hotel Little Italy, and 3. our poor attempt of joining in the action. This was the only red and white material left that I could get my hands on. The entire stocks of balloons, streamers, bunting etc etc all sold out.

GO 'IKALE TAHI GO - this sign outside one of the pubs.

WALLABIES WEDNESDAY

Not to be out done, but in conjunction with the Tongans, our wonderful High Commissioner promptly declared Wednesday to be WALLABY WEDNESDAY throughout the duration of the cup. Although there are only about 120 Aussies here, everyone is pulling out the old jerseys and anything green and gold and joining in the fun.

Some of the Australian High Commission staff all geared up and the enterance to the Immigration office.

Shenzhen Oriental Elements visit Tonga

During the week we had another Chinese dance group visit and this time they were even better than the last. They were a little more modern and as usual we all had our own favourite's. Dylan was the Fan magician, Em the dancer's (especially in the Green outfits), Jodie the balancing 12 year old and Lyndon........... all the girl dancers - of course!!!! But really, the balance performers were amazing! The guest of honor was the Princess and our friend Sia was the MC again as he speaks all three languages, English, Tongan and Chinese.

They opened with a Red ribbon group dance.

An example of the Lantern dance. Guest who had the camera?

These hat jugglers just kept pulling new tricks out of their hat. Ha ha.

This bloke worked his way up to this near impossible finale.

This girl is 12 years old and her performance went for 5+ minutes balancing on only one hand, even changing hands several times.

The performers from the "Lifting Your Bridal Veil" dance.

Amazing!!! These guys performed every move in slow motion and got one of the biggest applauses for their efforts.

Em's favourite dancer and not only because she is wearing green.

The "Fan Magician" had most people stumped as they just kept appearing from nowhere.

Luckily the Magician had an awesome assistant. It doesn't always pay to know the MC hey Dylan.

This was the final dance from a province in China that has so much silver they apparently wear it on all their costumes.

The Magician and our monkies.

The group shot with the Princess and Dupty Prime Minister in the centre. Sia squeezed in on the back right.

Sports, sports and for a change some art!

It was yet another busy week in Tonga with heaps of sports from local to international. Sadly no fishing though as the weather has continued to be absolute rubbish, also the boys have the boat out for a service. Lyndon started the week off again in Whites (Dress uniform) for an entire TDS Navy group photo followed by a sports day, not quite the usual events either. Events included 3 legged races, sack races, sprints around the parade ground and one very funny one when you have to do 10 spins around a stick then attempt to run back in a straight line. Funny as!

2011 TDS Navy plus the DCP staff.

Sack races on rocky ground made it even trickier!

Saturday morning we headed to the water front to support Rochelle as she celebrated her completion of the 8 week boot camp with a 10Km Fun (????) Run. Her first ever and what a great effort!

The Boot camp crew after everyone had made it back.

A small group for the Aquathon due to strong winds but our guest warm up coach was none other than the IKALE TAHI (Tonga World Cup Rugby Team) technical coach, our mate "Rugby John".

"On the Spot" art group had a art night on at Reef Cafe and Em teamed up with Louisa and Ruha for the night.

So naturally Dylan teamed up with Yvanne.

The girls and their final master piece.

The boys and their master piece.

As a warm up for the 2011 World Cup rugby games, the "Ikale Tahi" Tonga World Cup Rugby Team played the TDS National Defence Team. It was a little one sided but how often do you get to watch an international team play the local boys? The size difference was amazing it looked like the local school boys playing A grade team and the TDS boys aren't small either. The TDS boys even managed to sneak in twice in a 10-55 game.

"Rugby John" in the maroon shirt, amongst his boys!

Nothing like being close to the action.

Is this a rolling scrum or what?

Now this is Rugby Tonga style! Oh and he is part of the National team too!

The boys managed to sneak out to watch the All Blacks/Wallabies game Saturday night. Due to the delay in broadcasting (1115 kick off our time) and liquor licensing rules, as everything shuts for church at midnight Saturday we decided to adjourn to the Nukualofa men's club. We had a fair mix of supporters and past All Black representatives around us.

Sal had his jursey from 10 years ago on with 3 signatures left on it and who does he sit next to? None other than Toutai Kefu (60 caps for the Wallabies) and one of the 3 signatures on Sal's Jersey! We also had a sprinkling of Ikale Tahi players and coaches around us and the usual drunks (us included) Great result, Go the Wallabies!!!

Sunday lunch time Dylan and Lyndon road across the Island to Keleti Beach with a group of people for a Sunday recovery by the sea!! Tiny supplied one of the support vehicles, just in case it was a little too far home.