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WELLINGTON - Tonga may have been eliminated from the Rugby World Cup but the partying is far from over as the Pacific island nation celebrates the success of the tournament's surprise package.
The islanders, who became the neutrals' favourites in France, are expected to return to a heroes
welcome in the tiny kingdom, even though they finally succumbed 36-20 to England at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday.
Despite the final result, there was dancing in the streets of the capital Nuku'alofa as crowds celebrated a battling display that saw Tonga pummel the defending champions to lead 10-3 after 18 minutes before running out of steam ahead of the final whistle.
"You'd think we'd won the match, there's so much excitement here," Pesi Fonua, editor of Matangi Tonga online told AFP.
"People are dancing on the streets, getting ready for a huge welcome for the team, because everyone's so proud of what they've achieved.
"They've been partying right through the night for the last two days - in Nuku'alofa they've been wearing the team's red colours, waving flags, and honking horns."
With the nation gripped by rugby fever for the match, which was screened live on Saturday morning Tongan time, the government said it was considering a celebration for those players returning to Tongan soil.
Sports Minister Tu'i Vakano said the performance had lifted a nation still coming to terms with pro-democracy rioting last year that left seven dead and much of the capital's centre destroyed.
"The team has inspired our youth and boosted morale in the country after last year's riot in Nuku'alofa," he said.
Vakano said Tonga's King Siaosi Tupou V had followed the team's fortunes closely in France and protocol dictated that they visit him on their return from Europe.
"They deserve recognition, I think something should be done to welcome them, but there's nothing official planned yet," he said, adding that government would discuss the issue Wednesday but the final decision rested with the Tongan Rugby Union.
The bulk of the team play for overseas teams, including Japan, England and New Zealand, and it is unclear how many will would return to Tonga for celebrations.
Vakano said the International Rugby Board should recognise Tonga's performance at the tournament.
Tonga has a long rugby history, with New Zealand legend Jonah Lomu and Australian World Cup winners Willie Ofahengaue and Toutai Kefu tracing their roots back to the South Pacific nation.
But many players with Tongan backgrounds choose to represent rugby superpowers such as Australia and New Zealand, including current stars All Black Sione Lauaki and Wallabies George Smith, Wycliff Palu and Mark Gerrard.
Locals said many Tongans had written off the team before they left for Europe, instead investing their hopes in New Zealand's All Blacks.
But Tonga exceeded expectations in France, with eye-catching displays from the bald 'Tongan torpedo,' skipper Nili Latu, and big-haired Finau Maka.
A 19-15 win over Pacific neighbour and arch-rival Samoa created belief back home that the side could make an impact on the world stage.
The Tongans then followed up last Sunday by nearly staging the upset of the tournament against South Africa.
They received a standing ovation from the 40,000-strong crowd after stretching the 1995 champions, who needed to throw on their star-studded reserve bench to scrape through to a 30-25 win.
- AFP
