Tongan squad for PNC full of players with potential - Kefu

The Tongan Rugby coach Toutai Kefu says his squad for the Pacific Nations Cup has players with a lot of potential.

Fiji and Tonga will go head-to-head in the competition opener this weekend and Kefu admits it wasn't easy putting a squad together as close to 15 to 20 players were unavailable.

The Ikale Tahi arrived in the country last night and three of the notable new faces were Racing Metro prop Ben Tameifuna, Narbonne wing Nafi Tu'itavake and Auckland Blues forward Jack Ram.

Jack Ram has links to Fiji as his father, Samuel Santa Ram is from Tavua. His mother is a Tongan who his father met and married in Australia. Jack Ram was born in Australia, his parents moved to Tonga when he was 3 to start a business there.

Nili Latu returns as captain along with eleven players from last year's World Cup squad.

Key players including Sona Taumalolo, Fetu'u Vainikolo and Kurt Morath are all unavailable.

Fiji will face Tonga at 3pm Saturday at the ANZ Stadium and you can catch the live commentary of this match on our sister station Viti FM.

Tongan squad

Sione Faletau ‑ Canterbury

Ben Tameifuna ‑ Racing Metro

Sila Puafisi ‑ Glasgow

Leo Halavatau ‑ London Irish

Sione Lea ‑ Taranaki

Elvis Taione Exeter

Sione Anga'aelangi ‑ Counties

Steve Mafi ‑ Force

Daniel Faleafa ‑ Alibi

Uili Kolo'ofa'i ‑ Jersey

Jack Ram ‑ Auckland.

Nili Latu (captain) ‑ Newcastle

Sione Kalamafoni ‑ Gloucester

Sione Tau ‑ Agen

Viliami Fihaki ‑ Sale

Mikaele Mafi ‑ Otago

Sonatane Takulua ‑ Newcastle

Wayne Ngaluafe ‑ Auckland

Latiume Fosita ‑ Auckland

Martin Naufahu ‑ Rebels

David Halaifonua ‑ Gloucester

Nafi Tu'itavake ‑ Narbonne

Viliami 'Iongi ‑ San Francisco

'Otulea Katoa ‑ Edinburgh

Viliami Hakolo ‑ Nottingham

Daniel Kilioni ‑ Grenoble

Viliami Tahitu'a ‑ Yamaha

'Apakuki Ma'afu ‑ NSW Country