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Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:58 pm
by Beaussie
Well done Izzy. We can now call Tonga AFL heartland.
Folau makes AFL a hit in Tonga
August 16, 2011 - 2:06PM .
Australian rules football is now recognised as a "proper" sport in Tonga following Israel Folau's defection from rugby league last year, according to the assistant coach of the Tongan team.
Tonga are fielding a side in the AFL International Cup which includes two cousins of Folau.
Tongan assistant coach Ed McCowan said Folau's impact has been huge in the region.
"It is now being recognised as a proper sport in Tonga," he said.
Folau's 19-year-old cousin Penisimani Mahina, a Tongan 100m sprint champion, said the former NRL star's code switch was big news in his country.
"Izzy in Tonga is like a promotion for the AFL," Mahina said.
"When he moved from rugby league to AFL most of the Tongan youth start to move into AFL in Tonga."
Around 2000 kids play Australian rules football in the Pacific island nation through primary and high school clinics, while there are 200 senior players.
Folau - who is the public face of the Greater Western Sydney franchise - took part in a training session with the Tongan side at Doonside Technology High School in Sydney's west on Tuesday.
"It's pretty exciting for me, I'm pretty close with my culture and it's just good to be a part of it and see the game grow out to the Pacific, it's wonderful," Folau said.
"A lot of kids, most of them are playing rugby, but since AFL started over there a lot of them changed over and had a crack at playing the game.
"I think it's great for the sport that they are giving them a go and the guys here are pretty excited to get the chance to come to Australia."
The International Cup is played every three years and the 2011 carnival started in Sydney last Saturday.
The Tongans have played three games with their only win being over France after losing to Nauru and PNG.
AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/fola ... z1VBUZYKqT
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:19 pm
by King-Eliagh
AFL Heartland? Pfft
You're
again beaussie!
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:09 am
by Raiderdave
King-Eliagh wrote:AFL Heartland? Pfft
You're
again beaussie!
yes .. 2 little tongan kids will walk past a sherrin in tonga & suddenly be registered in the aus kick program
well thats how they do it in NSW & QLD i suppose
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:12 pm
by King-Eliagh
The country loves its Rugby and League, everyone knows this. It's not AFL heartland by any stretch and given the common solid body type of the Tongans I'd say its gunna stay that way.
Really Beaussie! What lengths will you go to next?
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:40 pm
by Truthsayer
You failed to read the article, Mr Eliagh.
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:33 pm
by King-Eliagh
"A lot of kids, most of them are playing rugby, but since AFL started over there a lot of them changed over and had a crack at playing the game."
Did I Truthslayer? What does most mean to you? I'd say it means more play rugby. He has not stated anywhere that now most of them play AFL. I think as per usual your interpretation is innacurate.
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:05 pm
by AFLcrap1
Bump
Lol how's AFL heartland Tonga going .
Another Bea laughable thread .
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:38 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
I tell ya what it has become
a HIT for the TONGAN RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM!
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:35 am
by King-Eliagh
Yet another example of the floundering mess that is afl international expansion
Every place they touch is never really interested, they take the free opportunity of "clinics" for kids and then after the afl have done their dash and cash? They go back to normal and the country once again becomes an afl ghost town
Beaussie do you know if they're still running "clinics" to deceive the public and say they've got 2,000 kids playing afl in tonga?
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:37 am
by AFLcrap1
My fave was the 50,000 in AFRica...or was it just South Africa .
Lol
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:12 pm
by NRL&NFLweLaughATafl
Should be an April fools joke lol
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:06 pm
by AFLcrap1
BUMP
Again .hows This working out Bea ???
Jesus ...out of all the delusional crap you post this is near the top of the crap heap .
Lol heartland .
JT is treated as a God over there .
Which Aflol player is treated as a god ..or even known over there .
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:43 pm
by King-Eliagh
Beaussie?
Umm dude, you're like the site owner
we know you're in here, you can't really hide
so comon now come and answer aflcrap1's question about ur 2011 post suggesting tonga had been taken over by the afl.
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:31 am
by Terry
Hahahahahah!!!! Beatup's been in the foetal position since his beloved code began tanking from R1. He makes occasional guest appearances to give contorted half baked numbers & then disappears back into the shadows sucking his thumb & thinking of better times lolololo.
You'd really like to be in the trenches with these fumblers. Lolllller is the only one still here havin' a go in this winter of discontent. And good on him...……..most of his post's are regurgitated drivel but at least he's in there throwing a couple!!!!!
Re: Australian Football a hit in Tonga
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:05 pm
by NRL&NFLweLaughATafl
AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:06 pm
BUMP
Again .hows This working out Bea ???
Jesus ...out of all the delusional crap you post this is near the top of the crap heap .
Lol heartland .
JT is treated as a God over there .
Which Aflol player is treated as a god ..or even known over there .
The picture AfL fans hate. Other countries representing rugby league.