Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) kicked off its first Grassroots to Global Forum last Thursday aimed at advancing women’s rugby.
The two-day event held at at Tungi Colonade in Nuku’alofa brought together local female rugby leaders to drive meaningful change across grassroots, national, and international levels.
“Grassroots to Global 2025 will focus on creating a supportive environment for women coaches, which will ultimately help bring more girls into rugby,” said TRU in a statement.
With support from ChildFund Rugby, PacificAus Sports, and the Rise Rugby Project, the forum focuses on boosting female participation in rugby by tackling barriers and creating more coaching opportunities for women.
TRU’s female board member Mrs. ‘Ofa Langi, Japanese Embassy representative Ms. Ayako Imai, and rugby advocate Mr. Ian Cooper presented certificates to participants from clubs across Tonga, including Kalapu ‘Akapulu ‘a Kolomotu’a and Marist Club.
ChildFund Rugby and Rise Rugby, in collaboration with key stakeholders, are helping to implement action plans at the community level.
The forum is a key step in World Rugby’s vision of achieving gender equity on and off the field.
