Tonga
Epi Taione quits Tonga Rugby Union due to anger at World Rugby funding
ESPN Staff
November 21, 2015
© (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Epi Taione has stepped down as chairman and president of the Tonga Rugby Union due to frustration over the level of funding they receive from World Rugby.

Taione, who won 18 caps for Tonga over a 10-year career, saw his side win just one match in the recent Rugby World Cup and has expressed his frustration at the few games the Islanders get against Tier One nations. He also described the distribution of funding as "bloody pathetic".

Talking to ONE News, Taione said: "We got given £250,000 preparation funding and others got given £7.5m. It's not a level playing field, it's completely unfair and it's bloody pathetic to be honest.

"All this talking about the money they made in the last World Cup, we don't see any of that and it's just how they run the things, it's just killing rugby."

© ESPN Staff

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