A Tongan community centre for young women has announced a 'Girls in Rugby' project to boost support for gender equality through sport.
Tonga girls play rugby Photo: Supplied Talitha Project
The move comes just days after a letter sent from the Ministry of Education to Tonga High School directed that girls should not be participating in rugby or boxing.
According to the letter, participation in those sports goes against young women's dignity and Tongan cultural traditions.
The Director of the Talitha Project said the NGO aims to provide opportunities to empower girls to become new and emerging leaders.
Vanessa Heleta said the four year project to encourage gender equality through sport is also supported by UN Women.
She said the involvement of girls and women in rugby is helping transcend gender barriers and stereotypes throughout the Pacific
Ms Heleta said there is no question that Tongan women should be on the rugby field, just as one day they will stand in equal numbers in the Parliament of Tonga.
The Ministry of Education has been in meetings over the past two days with Tonga High School's Prinicipal and the Prime Minister but has not yet responded to the outcry over its directive to limit female students participation in sports.
