Nine players from the ACT Brumbies system will feature in the First Nations & Pasifika XV squad to tour Tonga, with new signing Triston Reilly, Lington Ieli and Jarrah McLeod headlining the Brumbies contingent ahead of the inaugural Kaume’a Ofi Trophy against the Tonga President’s XV on Friday 4 September.
Joining them in the touring squad are Tavita Loughland, Judah Saumaisue, Chace Oates, Angus Tagicakibau, Denzel Veikune and Moses Sorovi.
The squad also features John I Dent Cup talent Remsy Lemisio, while Chace Oates will join his Queensland-based brother BJ in the clash. Adding further Brumbies representation, Club legend Christian Leali’ifano will serve as an assistant coach under former Wallaby Wycliff Palu.
Ieli, Reilly and McLeod both represented the Brumbies in last year’s clash against the British & Irish Lions, with the trio now set to reunite on the international stage as part of a squad celebrating First Nations, Pasifika and Māori heritage.
The First Nations & Pasifika XV brings together an exciting mix of players of First Nations, Pasifika and Māori heritage, building on the side’s 2025 appearance against the British & Irish Lions.
The Tonga tour provides another opportunity for players to represent their heritage and communities on the international stage, while strengthening the deep rugby and cultural connections between Australia and Tonga.
The side will be coached by former Wallaby and NSW Waratahs great Wycliff Palu, with Eddie Aholelei and Leali’ifano joining the coaching staff as assistants.
Palu, a proud Australian of Tongan heritage, brings a unique perspective to a tour built around high-performance rugby and cultural connection.
First Nations & Pasifika XV head coach Wycliff Palu said:
“This is a special opportunity for these players to represent their communities, their cultures and the people who have helped them get to where they are today.
“We have a diverse group coming together, and that is what makes this team so exciting. There is a lot of talent in the squad, but just as importantly, there is a great opportunity for the players to learn from each other and build connections through this experience.
“Taking this group to Tonga and being able to share in the culture, while also playing against a team of locally based Tongan players, makes this much more than just a rugby match.
“We want the players to embrace the opportunity, play with pride and represent the First Nations, Pasifika and Māori communities that are such an important part of the rugby landscape.”
Among those selected are brothers Chace and BJ Oates, who will share the experience of representing their First Nations heritage together on an international stage.
For the Oates brothers, the opportunity to make the journey together adds another personal element to a tour centred on building people-to-people connections.
First Nations & Pasifika XV outside back BJ Oates said:
“To be selected in this team and have Chace there with me makes it even more meaningful. It’s about representing where we come from, our family and our community, but also embracing the opportunity to learn from the Tongan players and experience their culture.”
For a number of players, the significance of the tour is also reflected in the diverse Pacific heritage represented within the squad.
Brumbies prop Lington Ieli will bring his Fijian heritage to the touring group, adding another Pacific connection to a side featuring players with Tongan, Samoan, Fijian and Māori backgrounds alongside First Nations representation.
ACT Brumbies, and First Nations & Pasifika XV prop Lington Ieli said:
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the First Nations & Pasifika XV and also represent my Fijian heritage. I’m looking forward to experiencing Tonga, meeting the local players and being part of the cultural exchange.
“Rugby is part of our Pacific culture, and it brings people from different backgrounds together, and this tour is the perfect example of that.”
On the hosting side, the Tonga President’s XV will provide a rare opportunity for selected locally based players to represent their country in front of a home crowd.
The squad brings together a combination of established local talent and emerging players from Tonga’s domestic rugby system, giving the next generation of Tongan players an opportunity to experience international-level competition on home soil.
For Tonga President’s XV head coach Benhur Kivalu, the Kaume’a Ofi Trophy presents a valuable platform to test local-based players against quality opposition, particularly with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
A former Tonga international and two-time Rugby World Cup player, Kivalu represented the ‘Ikale Tahi at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups before going on to coach the Tonga U20 side and contribute to rugby development in Tonga.
Tonga President’s XV head coach Benhur Kivalu said:
“This is a very special opportunity for Tonga and everyone involved in the Kaume’a Ofi Trophy. Particularly with the Rugby World Cup next year, it gives us a chance to have a look at some of our local-based players, see how they perform against quality opposition and identify the potential that is here in Tonga.
“We have a lot of talent in our local rugby community, and opportunities like this are important for giving those players exposure and allowing them to show what they can do in a representative environment.
“Having played for Tonga and now having the opportunity to coach, I know how powerful it is to represent where you come from. This is about family, heritage and creating connections that can continue long after the final whistle.”
For Tonga President’s XV captain Vutulongo Puloka, the opportunity carries significance well beyond the scoreboard.
Puloka, who plays in the centres and serves as vice-captain of Kolomotu’a Rugby Club in Tonga, said the players were excited to have the chance to represent Tonga and showcase the talent developing locally.
Tonga President’s XV captain Vutulongo Puloka said:
“Normally, the Ikale Tahi is the team our fans see representing Tonga, so for the local boys to have the opportunity to run out and represent the country in front of our families, friends and supporters is something really special.
“For the young boys, especially those coming through the Under 20s, this is a great opportunity to see that local players can represent Tonga.
“It is an opportunity that does not come around often, so they need to grab it with both hands and live up to the standard.”
The match will also provide an opportunity for the Tongan players to welcome the First Nations & Pasifika XV and share the culture and traditions that sit at the heart of the Kaume’a Ofi Trophy.
Puloka said that cultural exchange would be just as important as what happens on the field.
“It is really important for us to exchange cultures and learn from each other. We are excited to show what Tonga is all about, especially our Anga’ofa — our friendly and loving way of life.”
Supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports initiative and in close collaboration between Tonga Rugby Union and Rugby Australia, the Kaume’a Ofi Trophy — meaning “Close Friends” in Tongan — was established to celebrate the enduring relationship between Tonga and Australia and the role rugby can play in connecting communities.
MATCH DETAILS
First Nations & Pasifika XV v Tonga President’s XV
- Venue: Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Tonga
- Date: Friday 4 September
- Kick-off: 12:00pm AEST / 3:00pm local
