Essentially Group (NZ) Rugby Academy For Tonga ^Featured

Essentially Group (NZ) Limited is the premier sports management company in New Zealand and in the international world of rugby. They are sports managers to athletes such as Richie McCaw and Dan Carter and coaches such as Sir Graham Henry and Wayne Smith.

Lou Thompson CEO and Simon Porter Contracts Manager represented the company during the meeting. The company is the agent for 70 percent of All Blacks players, 70 percent of Super XV players and 80 percent of all New Zealand Players playing overseas.

The meeting was an informal type which allowed participants to express their views of the company’s initiative and how could it be implemented in Tonga. Paula Fonua Principal of Tailulu College sought clarifications on the proposed structure of the academy and what areas they target.

Simon Porter responded that the academy will be the same with other academies they have been working with and the company will focus on training, discipline and marketing players overseas. “We want to make sure that talented players will get all the opportunities they deserve,” said Simon.

Lou Thompson stated that they are here to listen to as many people as they could. According to Thompson, the academy will start with 20 players and then increase the number as it goes. He told the meeting that work is underway to establish similar academy in Samoa and Fiji and this is part of a wider plan by the company to assist the development of rugby in the Pacific.

William Clive Edwards of Edwards Law which represents the company here in Tonga in his opening address emphasized the important of the meeting for schools and confirmed the academy will be independent of the government and Tonga Rugby Union but will work side by side to develop rugby in Tonga.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the country and we hope that this vision will materialize as it will bring a lot of opportunities to the youth of Tonga,” said Edwards.

Kalafitoni Latu Principal of Tonga College shared his experience with the small academy that they have at Tonga College. According to Latu, they have managed to send 60 player in the last four years to Japan and New Zealand and this proves the important of this development in rugby at this level. The same shared by Fr. Seluni ‘Akau’ola about the newly established academy at ‘Apifo’ou College which aim at training students to become successful rugby players.

The meeting was a success as participants share the same belief that the timing of this project is important for the development of rugby in Tonga. They believe that coaching problems is a big obstacle and it needs to be addressed urgently. Paula Fonua said that Tonga Rigby Union used to run coaching clinics but its no longer available and it was not consistently executed.

Dr. Viliami Latu delivered the final speech on behalf of the meeting organizers David and John Edwards, Edwards Law before Fr. Seluini ‘Akau’ola closed the meeting with a prayer.