Tonga, hosting their first test in eight years, made a winning start to their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 30-26 victory over Samoa in Nuku’alofa yesterday.

The tournament, which also involves Fiji, doubles as a qualifier for the World Cup with the combined 2016 and 2017 results deciding which two teams from the region win automatic berths in Japan in 2019.

Sonatane Takulua was the standout for the hosts in front of a crowd of around 10,000 at the newly-refurbished Teufaiva Stadium in the Tongan capital.