A video appearing to show a Samoan flag being burned has triggered outrage after Tonga’s dramatic Rugby League World Cup win over its Pacific rival, with calls for the Tongan government to issue a public apology.
Tonga edged Samoa 20-18 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on Sunday after Addin Fonua-Blake crossed for the decisive try in the 73rd minute of a fiercely physical contest.
The victory booked Tonga a semi-final against New Zealand, while Samoa will take on Australia. With both teams still chasing the World Cup title, another meeting between the Pacific rivals remains possible in the final.
Few international rugby league fixtures carry the same emotional weight. The rivalry is marked by Tonga’s Sipi Tau and Samoa’s Siva Tau, as well as deep national pride, shared cultural ties and passionate support from Pacific communities around the world.
However, the mood has been overshadowed by footage that appears to show two young people setting fire to a Samoan flag after the match. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation and renewed pleas for supporters to respect one another, regardless of the result.
In the video, two children are seen burning the flag alongside the caption Tokoua koe kau toa koaa — meaning ‘you are the only heroes’ — followed by three laughing emojis.
A still from the video appearing to show children burning a Samoan flag after the Rugby League World Cup clash with Tonga
The footage prompted anger among Samoan supporters, who called for greater respect from their rivals
Tonga and Samoa have developed one of international rugby league’s most intense rivalries
Facebook user Aloisia Tuukaelaua Vake, who identified those in the footage as Tongan children, called on their parents to intervene and urged the Tongan government to apologise.
‘Tongan parents, please teach your children properly. They should never show disrespect to another country’s flag, regardless of what happens,’ she wrote.
‘I woke up and saw a video online of two Tongan children burning the Samoan flag after last night’s game, and I was furious.
‘This conduct is deeply disrespectful and disgusting. I believe there should be serious consequences for behavior like this.’
Vake said the footage damaged Tonga’s reputation and insisted that the incident deserved a public response.
‘The Tongan government and the children’s parents should record a video apologising to Samoa,’ she wrote.
Although the rivalry is intense on the field, players from both sides have shown respect after the match
Other social media users also denounced the flag burning while stressing the importance of unity between two nations connected by family, history and community.
‘It is incredibly disappointing to see this. Every national flag deserves respect, no matter which country it represents,’ one person wrote.
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‘But please don’t allow the actions of a few children to divide our beautiful Pacific family.
‘Tonga and Samoa share far more than an ocean. We share history, family and deep affection. We should teach respect rather than create further division.’
Another commenter said adults must help children understand that celebrating their own nation does not require insulting another.
‘Respect for every country and its flag should be taught from childhood,’ they wrote.
Tonga secured the narrow victory after Addin Fonua-Blake scored a late match-winning try
‘Children need direction, discipline and positive examples from adults. We can celebrate our own country without disrespecting anyone else.’
One contributor said a national flag represents the history and identity of generations of people.
‘Burning a flag does not weaken a country or wipe away its history. It only exposes the disrespect of the person who set it alight,’ they wrote.
Perhaps the most striking response came from a supporter who identified as Samoan and described stopping beside a busy highway to pick up a fallen Tongan flag.
They said they were on the way to collect their daughter from work when they noticed the flag, pulled over and retrieved it.
Assuming it had fallen from another family’s vehicle, they folded it carefully and placed it on the dashboard.
Samoa will face Australia in the semi-finals and could meet Tonga again if both teams reach the final
They then said they planned to display it beside their Samoan flag on the roof of their ute.
‘Win or lose, we need to learn to respect other nations,’ they wrote.
The backlash comes after a match that highlighted the extraordinary popularity of the Tonga-Samoa rivalry.
The clash attracted the biggest crowd ever recorded for a sporting event at the new Parramatta Stadium, while supporters organised pre-match celebrations in cities including Houston, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.
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