The Latest: Tonga set to say goodbye to Piutau, Kalamafoni
TOKYO (AP) — The Latest on Day 23 of the Rugby World Cup in Japan (all times local):
12: 45 p.m.
Tonga is ready to say goodbye to captain Siale Piutau and to Sione Kalamafoni, who are retiring from international rugby after the Rugby World Cup game against the United States in Osaka on Sunday. Piutau announced Friday that he was giving up. Kalamafoni made the decision before the tournament in Japan. Both say they want to spend more time with their families.
Loose forward Kalamafoni says “my wife and I had our third child just a few months ago and hats off to her for staying with them so I could do this. A rugby career involves a lot of sacrifices and it feels like the right time.”
Piutau and Kalamafoni will finish after their 12th Rugby World Cup games, equaling the Tongan record.
“It’s an honor and hopefully we will finish on a high,” Kalamafoni says.
Both Tonga and the U.S. have lost all three games in Japan, although Tonga came close against France.
“We’re approaching the game as if it’s our grand final,” Tonga coach Toutai Kefu says. “Looking at what we’ve done the last couple of weeks, the improvements we’ve made, we don’t want to undo that and put in a below-par and poor performance.”
