10-31-2007, 08:54 PM
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AFP) — While many professional coaches from rugby's big guns are probably sunning themselves on a quiet beach after the World Cup, Quddus Fielea is back at his desk at the Tonga Water Board.
Little fancied and impoverished Tonga, with a population of 105,000 and around 10,000 registered players won the hearts of rugby fans everywhere in the World Cup.
They beat the US and South Pacific rivals Samoa and gave eventual champions South Africa the fright of their lives before going down 30-25.
Another brave performance in a 16-point loss to England proved they could mix it with the best despite a lack of money, and ensured the team returned home as heroes.
The signs going into the tournament had been ominous. Their Australian coach Adam Leach had left in March to be replaced by water engineer Fielea and infighting had seen the Tonga Rugby Union split into rival factions.
View full story: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcSp...YH5zp04Kfw
Little fancied and impoverished Tonga, with a population of 105,000 and around 10,000 registered players won the hearts of rugby fans everywhere in the World Cup.
They beat the US and South Pacific rivals Samoa and gave eventual champions South Africa the fright of their lives before going down 30-25.
Another brave performance in a 16-point loss to England proved they could mix it with the best despite a lack of money, and ensured the team returned home as heroes.
The signs going into the tournament had been ominous. Their Australian coach Adam Leach had left in March to be replaced by water engineer Fielea and infighting had seen the Tonga Rugby Union split into rival factions.
View full story: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcSp...YH5zp04Kfw