Touchy Tongans refuse to play test

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 6

Touchy Tongans refuse to play test

PA Wellington Tonga’s national rugby union side yesterday refused to play a scheduled test match against Western Samoa at Apia, after making complaints about the treatment it had received during a two-week 'Western Samoa tour.

The test would have been its fifth and last match.

The treasurer of the Western Samoan Rugby Union. Mr Allen Grey, said last evening that his union saw no justification for the complaints, but would honour payment of the return tickets which had been issued to the Tongans. “As far as we are concerned, the sooner they leave the better,” he said. < The Tongans decided to abandon their tour on Saturday but an-attempt to board an aircraft for a flight back to Tonga failed when . the ' Western \ Samoan Rugby Union, alleging that the tourists had. breached a contract, told airline officials that it would not honour payment on the tickets.

The complaints, from the Tongans developed after their 0-1 S loss to Western Samoan colts on Wednesday. They said that they had been ill-treated on the playing . field by referees, touch judges, and spectators.

Several Tongan players ; also complained that the food, given them had been terrible.

Mr Grey said.'that his union had expected a profit from the tour, but now hoped only to break even. He said that the Tongans would return home today.