Tonga_rugby
Academy Player
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Messages
- 64
- Country Flag
- Club or Nation
[h=1]From matangitonga.to
[url]http://matangitonga.to/2012/09/05/mana-otai-ikale-tahis-new-head-coach[/URL]
Mana 'Otai, 'Ikale Tahi's new Head Coach.[/h]Manakaetau 'Otai, 'Ikale Tahi coach, and Peter Harding High Performance Manager, Tonga Rugby Union. 5 September 2012.
Manakaetau 'Otai, named as Tonga's new National Head Coach for the 'Ikale Tahi for the next two years, has the imminent task of putting together the best national team for a tour to Europe in November.
The national team will play three test matches against Italy, Scotland and the United States, and a team is expected to be announced before they leave around October 26-27.
Mana (44), who lives in New Zealand, came to Nuku'alofa to take up his new appointment, announced on August 23 by 'Epeli Taione, chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Board.
Mana said he was now looking at the selection process for the European tour.
"Apart from picking the best possible team there are other factors to look at now, including our players availability, their conditions and to confirm them. So a lot of work needs to be done and my timeline is for September 30," he said.
He will also look at those involved in the Sevens and in the Pacific Rugby Cup, including Tonga A, as well as players who are playing professionally overseas.
"Tongans want to win and that is ultimately the goal for every team that we put together", he said.
Mana who will be working between Tonga and New Zealand believed that Tonga can do better. "Our job here is to raise the level of rugby so kids can aspire toward representing our country, like in New Zealand, every kid who plays rugby wants to play for the All Blacks," he said. "That is why I came back and played for the 'Ikale Tahi. We can raise the level of rugby in Tonga so that Tongan kids overseas can also look to 'Ikale tahi with that same aspiration, so that is our job," he said.
Mana who grew up in Tonga, left in his teens for further schooling in New Zealand.
He was Tonga's 'Ikale Tahi captain in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, as number 8. He played professional rugby in New Zealand and Japan, and was an All Blacks trialist in 1994. He has been coaching in Auckland for the last three years.
"Tonga has achieved very well in the last few World Cups with what we have already, and imagine if we could raise the level of rugby. So it is a pleasure to be in Tonga," he said.
Coaching
Peter Harding, the TRU's High Performance Manager said they were in the process of putting a coaching group together to support Mana, including an assistant 'Ikale Tahi coach.
He said they wanted make sure that when the 'Ikale Tahi players came from overseas and from Tonga, their every tour will be a step-up from their last.
Peter said TRU was also setting up a network to gather information on the Tongan players from around the world.
"We have people in Europe following Tongan players, and we have someone in Japan to scout for us who is a Tongan but an ex-Wallabies playing there. We also have a good team of coaches that we are networking with in New Zealand who are helping TRU," he said.
Coaches
Peter said Mana was the best pick out of close to 50 applicants, with around 20 who had the highest quality in the coaching field.
"For the position of head coach we looked for the cultural fit, leadership, coaching and management abilities and he had it all."
"We are happy that Mana is leading the coaching group because he is a man with genuine leadership capability."
Meanwhile, he said the other positions would be announced soon includeds the Sevens Coach and the U-19.
It is understood that applicants for the 'Ikale Tahi coach, included Dan Manu, Siliva Payne, a former 'Ikale Tahi coach 'Isitolo Maka, with top coaches such as Tim Lane a former Wallabies assistant coach and Bryce Woodward of the Auckland Blues.
[url]http://matangitonga.to/2012/09/05/mana-otai-ikale-tahis-new-head-coach[/URL]
Mana 'Otai, 'Ikale Tahi's new Head Coach.[/h]Manakaetau 'Otai, 'Ikale Tahi coach, and Peter Harding High Performance Manager, Tonga Rugby Union. 5 September 2012.
Manakaetau 'Otai, named as Tonga's new National Head Coach for the 'Ikale Tahi for the next two years, has the imminent task of putting together the best national team for a tour to Europe in November.
The national team will play three test matches against Italy, Scotland and the United States, and a team is expected to be announced before they leave around October 26-27.
Mana (44), who lives in New Zealand, came to Nuku'alofa to take up his new appointment, announced on August 23 by 'Epeli Taione, chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Board.
Mana said he was now looking at the selection process for the European tour.
"Apart from picking the best possible team there are other factors to look at now, including our players availability, their conditions and to confirm them. So a lot of work needs to be done and my timeline is for September 30," he said.
He will also look at those involved in the Sevens and in the Pacific Rugby Cup, including Tonga A, as well as players who are playing professionally overseas.
"Tongans want to win and that is ultimately the goal for every team that we put together", he said.
Mana who will be working between Tonga and New Zealand believed that Tonga can do better. "Our job here is to raise the level of rugby so kids can aspire toward representing our country, like in New Zealand, every kid who plays rugby wants to play for the All Blacks," he said. "That is why I came back and played for the 'Ikale Tahi. We can raise the level of rugby in Tonga so that Tongan kids overseas can also look to 'Ikale tahi with that same aspiration, so that is our job," he said.
Mana who grew up in Tonga, left in his teens for further schooling in New Zealand.
He was Tonga's 'Ikale Tahi captain in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, as number 8. He played professional rugby in New Zealand and Japan, and was an All Blacks trialist in 1994. He has been coaching in Auckland for the last three years.
"Tonga has achieved very well in the last few World Cups with what we have already, and imagine if we could raise the level of rugby. So it is a pleasure to be in Tonga," he said.
Coaching
Peter Harding, the TRU's High Performance Manager said they were in the process of putting a coaching group together to support Mana, including an assistant 'Ikale Tahi coach.
He said they wanted make sure that when the 'Ikale Tahi players came from overseas and from Tonga, their every tour will be a step-up from their last.
Peter said TRU was also setting up a network to gather information on the Tongan players from around the world.
"We have people in Europe following Tongan players, and we have someone in Japan to scout for us who is a Tongan but an ex-Wallabies playing there. We also have a good team of coaches that we are networking with in New Zealand who are helping TRU," he said.
Coaches
Peter said Mana was the best pick out of close to 50 applicants, with around 20 who had the highest quality in the coaching field.
"For the position of head coach we looked for the cultural fit, leadership, coaching and management abilities and he had it all."
"We are happy that Mana is leading the coaching group because he is a man with genuine leadership capability."
Meanwhile, he said the other positions would be announced soon includeds the Sevens Coach and the U-19.
It is understood that applicants for the 'Ikale Tahi coach, included Dan Manu, Siliva Payne, a former 'Ikale Tahi coach 'Isitolo Maka, with top coaches such as Tim Lane a former Wallabies assistant coach and Bryce Woodward of the Auckland Blues.
