Rugby: 'Coconuts' term to hype Tonga raises eyebrows

Members of the Tonga squad take self portraits with their mobile phones as they arrive for a 2015 Rugby Union World Cup welcoming ceremony. Photo / Getty Images

The use of the term "bunch of coconuts'' in a Rugby World Cup article about the Tongan team has raised some eyebrows on this side of the world.

An article on the tournament's official website features the 'Ikale Tahi's use of coconuts brought especially over from Tonga to help them throughout the World Cup.

The headline for the story is: "We've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.'' Just above that is a photo of three players from the Tongan side.

The NZ Tongan Rugby Football Association, based in Auckland, acknowledged that the headline could be offensive to some; given that the term "coconuts'' was hugely derogratory to many in Pasifika communities.

Secretary Manase Lua said: "It sounds like they're probably making fun of the team. But the English are making fun of the haka [too]. They're making fun of everybody.

"But most of the fun stops when they play. So the funny thing will be when [England] get smashed by the All Blacks or some other team. So they can say what they like, but at the end of the day it's what happens on the field that matters.''

The headline is likely to be a play on the well-known song: I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.

Mr Lua said he hoped the intention was that and not to have a double meaning or pointing to the background of the players.

"It depends on the intention that they were doing it. If it's all fun and games then it's all good. But it's probably not a good thing if they were meaning to be intentionally racist or that kind of thing.

"But it's the World Cup - so people are trying to drum up interest. There's always going to be a little bit of mishievous stuff behind it. They always pick on the Island players - especially when they put on a big tackle...and there's always negative connotations. But this is, I suppose, how the media portray our Island boys.''

In July, former Australian and Queensland player Billy Moore apologised following his comments about Polynesian players during an interview on FOX Sports NRL360.

The Maroons back-rower was referring to the Warriors when he said: "They get points because they play that coconut style, Polynesian sort of football...throwing it around.''