Pacific / Tonga

Sport: Profits from Rugby World Cup warm-up to be donated to ex Tonga flanker

11:55 am on 2 September 2015

Profits from ticket sales for this weekend's Rugby World Cup warm up match between Tonga and Romania will be donated to former 'Ikale Tahi flanker Sione Vaiomo'unga, who is suffering from kidney failure.

The 26 year old was playing for Romanian champions CSM Baia Mare when he was diagnosed last year.

Former Tonga flanker Sione Vaiomo'unga at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Vaiomo'unga represented Tonga at the 2011 World Cup and played the last of his 13 tests three years ago, under 'Ikale Tahi head coach Mana Otai.

"We couldn't ask for a better person to play this game [for] - especially to dedicate the game to him, given the talent and the unfortunate situation that he is in. He would have been in the team, I can assure you, if it wasn't for his illness because that's the player that he is and showed at the last World Cup".

The Romanian Rugby Federation says money from the Bucharest game will allow Vaiomounga to see his family for the first time in more than a year.