As a New Zealand-born Tongan, Sela Jane Hopgood has always supported two teams at the Rugby World Cup – but that’s about to change this year.

It’s 2011 and I’m at the Onehunga train station with my younger sister waiting for our train to Britomart. The intercom at the station sounds off: “Catch the train for free with your game day rugby ticket,” the voice says. We are heading to Eden Park for the opening match of the Rugby World Cup. It is the All Blacks versus ‘Ikale Tahi (Tonga’s national rugby team). I want to support both teams.

I’m dressed in a plain black T-shirt and black skinny jeans with an All Blacks flag that has a large silver fern in the centre draped around my neck like Superwoman. Earlier that day I bought a $2 plain white mask, similar to what the hip hop dance group Jabbawockees would wear for their performances, and painted it red to reflect the Tongan flag. I lose count of how many Tongans offer to buy the mask off me as we wait for the train. I of course decline.

Our train arrives and we grab a seat. The next stop is Te Papapa and a huge crowd enters the train. The same thing happens at Penrose station and suddenly the train has reached full capacity. We’re packed like sardines when the train comes to a standstill. After nearly half an hour I tell my sister, “Let’s get off at Greenlane and catch a bus.” Kick-off is in an hour and I’m not going to miss the biggest match of my life.

I am a New Zealand-born Tongan, and for most of my life I have always cheered for the All Blacks and ‘Ikale Tahi, simultaneously. But for this year’s Rugby World Cup, I am purely backing Tonga.

Tonga, like Sāmoa and Fiji, continue to play at the Rugby World Cup underfunded, lacking professional facilities and extensive human resources to support their preparations. It’s the same story every four years: the humble Island nations falling behind, yet often providing wealthier rugby unions with the players to buff up their squads.

It is no secret that rugby is huge in the Pacific, including Tonga, where young Tongan boys aspire to play rugby professionally to earn a decent living that could bring their family out of poverty. Writing about the 100-year anniversary of Tongan rugby earlier this year, I learned that back in Tonga, children would play rugby using an empty plastic bottle as a ball. Recently Tonga held a parade to mark 50 years since they beat Australia in Brisbane. That’s how passionate Tongans are about their rugby team. 

The sport is hugely ingrained in the Tongan way of living. Tonga is currently ranked 15th in the latest men’s World Rugby rankings, but what if they fall out of the top 20 and they are no longer eligible to play at the next World Cup? This tournament is crucial for Tonga to build on its player base and infrastructure, but there’s always risk of completely bowing out. What will younger generations and community support look like without a Rugby World Cup to build to?

This is why I will be cheering only for my homeland this year. ‘Ikale Tahi need all the support they can get from Tongans worldwide to prove they are worthy of staying in the competition. We cannot forget the energetic spectacle of Tongan supporters and the life they bring to the World Cup. And despite the many obstacles, Pacific nations are closing the gap, with the bigger countries as more players choose to gain experience overseas then return to play for their home countries. At the Rugby League World Cup last year, Sāmoa went all the way to the final, and Tonga made the quarter finals. 

Just last weekend in the final matches before this World Cup, Fiji shocked the world by beating England for the first time ever. Then Sāmoa nearly outdid them by leading world number-one ranked Ireland, eventually ending with a narrow loss. At the same time, the All Blacks were smashed by South Africa in a record defeat. If anything, it showed that this World Cup is shaping up to be the most unpredictable yet – and the Pacific nations are more than just crowd favourites.

‘Ikale Tahi’s coach Toutai Kefu has told ESPN that his squad is probably their best ever, with a lineup stacked with international players who will be wearing the red jersey for the first time. Is the Pacific finally going to see its nations flourish in a sport that’s long been a huge part of their culture? I pray so. The Pacific Islands have provided so many players to the squads of tier one nations, it is time we benefited from our own.

This is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.