The Tonga rugby union has welcomed a proposal for a Super Eight competition which would include its national team, Fiji, Samoa, as well as four Australian teams and one from Japan
The Super-8, which could get underway next year, stems from an Australian Rugby Union proposal to help these Pacific countries become more competitive in test rugby, with regular exposure to top competition.
The Chief Executive of the Tonga Rugby Union, Sakopo Lolohea says the proposal coincides with a push by the Pacific countries for a Super Six competition, a proposal which has been with the IRB for more than a year.
Mr Lolohea says for Pacific countries to improve, playing two test matches a year is not enough...
"So that's one of the problems that we're trying to address with the Super 6. We have two teams each from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga competing at below test level competition. So the Super 8 and the Super 6 is trying to address the same thing although in an expansion format."
The Chief Executive of the Tonga Rugby Union, Sakopo Lolohea
