The
Tonga National Rugby Union team is nicknamed
Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the
Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the
Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with
Fiji and
Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the
2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to
New Zealand and
Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first ever presence at the quarter-finals. On 24 November 2012, Tonga beat
Scotland, at
Pittodrie Stadium, 21–15 for their first victory over a traditional rugby power on a European pitch.