Tonga players threaten boycott over Kristian Woolf’s future as coach – reports

Drew Darbyshire

Tonga players are threatening to stop playing international Tests due to doubts over the future of coach Kristian Woolf.

Former Gold Coast Titans boss Gareth Brennan is understand to have already been appointed to coach Tonga at the World Cup 9s in Sydney this October, according to NRL.com.

The Mate Ma’a Tonga players want the interim Tonga National Rugby League board to hold an election and want to see George Kolomatangi and secretary William Edwards stood down.

Former Tonga player and official, John Hopoate, posted on social media: “If this interim board think that they can come in and do this after all the hard work we have done to get the players to play for Tonga and to stay loyal to us then they have got another thing coming.

“I’ve just finished speaking with the players and they are getting letters done up now.

“But if this board is still the board during the 9s and the two Tests at the end of the year, and as a spokesman for the players, we will NOT be taking any part in any of the games.

“They are talking about going back to Australia and New Zealand, too.”

Woolf is expected to be appointed as the new St Helens coach.


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