Thursday 27th September 2007
International Rugby Board (IRB) officials have ordered Tonga's leading players to head to the showers after they dyed their green in honour of their sponsors.
The gesture was in appreciation of Paddy Power, the Irish bookmakers, for pumping funds into nation's cash-strapped World Cup preparations.
But the IRB, who Tonga have accused of coming up short on promised funds, said the green hair was a form of advertising and therefore outlawed at the tournament.
By the time the team appeared at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris to practice for Friday's winner takes all Group A match with defending champion England, only a couple of players still had streaks of green in their hair.
"I just do not get the ruling," said Tonga captain Nili Latu.
"Some of the guys in the other teams are wearing blond hair."
But Tui Uata, vice-president of the Tongan Rugby Union, alleges that a lack of support from the IRB drove the islanders into the arms of the bookmakers.
He claims that his side has only received a fraction of what was originally offered from the governing body.
"I understand from our high performance officer that we have not had £110,000 [$223,000] of the £150,000 [$304,000] we are due," he told Reuters.
Tonga centre Epeli Taione concurred with Uata, pointing to the financial gulf between his country and the men they face at Parc des Prince on Friday.
"We've had £40,000 [$82,000] - we're playing England on Friday and I don't know what other teams are on," he said.
This is Tonga's second attempt to thank their benefactor - and the second failure.
Taione changed his name by deed poll to 'Paddy Power' in acknowledgment of the sponsors, but the IRB refused to amend his entry in the official guide to the World Cup.
The IRB has made no official comment about the Tongan players' stance or their accusation.
The Tongans, meanwhile, cancelled a pre-planned press conference on Thursday evening, and team spokesman Joh Fifita was unavailable for comment.
If Tonga beat England, they will secure a World Cup quarter-final place for the first time, sending the Webb Ellis Trophy holders home.
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