Tonga Faces Samoa in Crucial Pacific Championships Clash

BRISBANE, Australia — Tonga begins its Pacific Championships campaign this afternoon, taking on Samoa at Suncorp Stadium. The match is crucial for Samoa, which lost to New Zealand last week and needs a win to stay in contention for the Pacific Cup final on November 9.

If Tonga secures a victory, they will advance to the final no matter the outcome of their next matchup against New Zealand. Both teams are expected to put forth strong performances, particularly Tonga, which is fielding one of its most formidable lineup in history.

Last year, Tonga surprised many in the tournament, narrowly losing to Australia by just six points in the 2024 Pacific Cup. However, they will have to cope with the absence of star middle forward Jason Taumalolo, who has been ruled out due to injury. Felise Kaufusi will take Taumalolo’s spot in the starting side.

Samoa has made last-minute adjustments as well, with Terrell May returning to the lineup after missing the previous match. Benaiah Ioelu will start at hooker, pushing Jazz Tevaga to the bench.

The match-up promises to be a thrilling display of rugby, with both teams eager to showcase their talent. Fans can watch every game of the 2025 Pacific Championships live on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo.