3 October 2011.

Today, the nation was filled with an overwhelming sense of national pride and patriotism as thousands of people flanked the main roads of Tongatapu from the Fua'amotu International Airport, where tens of hundreds awaited impatiently to greet and welcome home the ‘Ikale Tahi.

The team has returned to Tonga on Monday morning, after an outstanding victorious match over the French, who limped into the quarter-finals after an unexpected lost to Tonga, by 19-14 on Saturday evening October 1.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu joined other members of the Cabinet Ministers in welcoming the arrival of the ‘Ikale Tahi at the Airport, before the Deputy Prime Minister and the team made their way to the capital, in the longest five-hour motorcade and float, where  thousands of people from villages all over Tongatapu greeted the ‘Ikale Tahi with well-wishes and gifts of fresh fruits and joyful cheers.

Never before, has Tonga seen such a united front from issuing such a nationwide support and generating worldwide pride and hysteria with this year's ‘Go Red' support.

Tonga's triumphant win over France, the Rugby World's Number 4 is one of the 2011 Rugby World Cup upsets, which now puts Tonga in the Top Ten IRB Rankings for the first time ever on 3 October 2011.

Tonga ranks number 9 in the World, and the only Pacific Island nation, joining Australia and New Zealand with the defending champions of the IRB World Cup.

While in Nuku'alofa, the ‘Ikale Tahi was accompanied by the Hon. Frederica Tuita, the Speaker of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, Senior Government and Sports Officials and thousands of supporters while they paraded the Taufa'ahau Road with the whole country in jubilant.

A welcoming service was held at the Tu'imatamoana Wharf, to honour the ‘Ikaletahi, hosted by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and the Government of Tonga.

Following a lunch after the event at Tu'imatamoana and a reception at the International Dateline Hotel in Nuku'alofa later in the evening.

ENDS.

Issued by the: Ministry of Information and Communications, Nuku'alofa, 2011.