Born and bred in Raglan, Tonga Marshall recently returned with his over 40s team from the Touch World Cup 2024 with a gold medal in hand.
Taking on trans-Tasman rivals in the final of the Masters divisions, they beat Australia 4-3.
New Zealand fielded 11 teams at the tournament and the 40s brought home the only gold with the other 10 teams bringing home silvers.
The 47-year-old originally trialled for the 45s and didn’t get selected but got the call up for the 40s team.
“The 45s are a pretty good team so they obviously had all their guys,” he says.
The World Cup was held in the UK this year and it was Tonga’s first time travelling to England.
“I haven’t been over there before and being a Māori in England, it’s going to be a little bit different,” he laughs.
Like most world tournaments, Tonga says, no matter what the outcome for the teams, it’s the atmosphere that is the big winner.
“The teams from all the other countries were amazing and the hosts were awesome.”
Tonga has close to 30 years playing touch, and this is his first World Cup, but he has represented New Zealand against Australia in 2017.
He started his sporting journey playing football in Raglan before switching to rugby and representing Raglan Area School, and playing in the seniors’ team for Raglan Rugby Club.
Tonga took up touch when he was 18 and now plays link position. Links are positioned between the middles and wingers, and are deceptive runners and the best ball handlers.
Touch teams are made of up to 14 players, with a maximum of six players on the field at any time with unlimited substitutions.
It’s a fast-paced game and one that requires a great deal of fitness.
In the lead up to the World Cup, Tonga travelled to Auckland every Sunday morning.
“I’d leave around six o’clock in the morning, training from eight to 10, and then playing a game after 10 o’clock at a competition up there.”
By Janine Jackson
