NSW Swifts Training Partner Nicola Barge has been included in an Australian 23U Pathway side which will travel to Tonga later this year for a three-day international tour against Tonga’s national netball team, the Tonga Tala.
The tour will take place from Friday 31 October to Monday 3 November 2025, with matches held at Tonga’s newly built stadium in Nuku’alofa. As part of Netball Australia’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of elite players, it also aims to strengthen ties with the Pacific region.
Led by former Swifts Assistant Coach Anita Keelan AM and Michelle Wilkins, the Australian Pathways squad comprises emerging athletes from across the country who will receive invaluable international match play experience against the current ninth world-ranked team and four-time winners of the PacificAus Sports Netball Series.
For the Tonga Tala, this will mark the first time the national team will compete on home soil – a historic moment for the country and its netball community. The tour forms part of Tonga’s national celebrations recognising the 150th anniversary of Tonga's Constitution, and Tonga's diplomatic ties with Australia.
In honour of the occasion, Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho has named the tour 'TALA- TUTONE’, commemorating the Constitution and paying tribute to songs composed by Her Late Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou III in relation to the Constitution, which is referred to in Tonga as Konisitutone and in short ‘TUTONE’.
The TALA-TUTONE will build on Australia's experience at the Rising Stars: 21/U Tour, where the national 21/U squad competed against top international teams in Suva, Fiji, supported by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program.
GIANTS Training Partner Monika ‘Otai represented Australia during the Rising Stars tour and is looking forward to taking part in another PacificAus Sports initiative.
“Tours like the one in Fiji showed me how much growth comes from being pushed outside our comfort zone. We gained valuable exposure and learnings on court, while also building deep connections and embracing the culture with a real sense of gratitude,” ‘Otai shared.
“I know this tour will be another special opportunity to challenge ourselves, keep developing, and create lasting memories with the team.”
To further athlete development, this competition will act as a crucial preparation platform for athletes progressing through Australia’s high-performance pathways.
Netball Australia Executive Manager, Megan Simpson, highlighted the importance of the upcoming tour to support the next generation of elite netballers.
“This opportunity will continue to support Australia’s athlete pathways. The Tonga Tala are a strong and competitive team who will provide a valuable challenge for our athletes,” Simpson said.
“This tour will also give emerging Australian talent important international exposure to help advance their sporting journeys.”
Beyond the court, the two teams will engage in a series of community-focused initiatives, including local school visits and cultural exchange activities.
These engagements will strengthen ties with the local community while offering athletes a broader understanding of the role sport plays in uniting cultures.
Defender Maggie Caris, who made her debut for the Melbourne Vixens in the Suncorp Super Netball this season, has been selected as one of the ten athletes taking part in this tour.
“I am very grateful to be a part of the tour and to test myself and the playing group against the Tonga Tala,” Caris said.
“I am looking forward to drawing on my SSN experience from this year, while continuing to learn and grow alongside our coaches, teammates, and our opponents as well.”
Salote Sisifa, CEO of Tonga Netball Association and President of Oceania Netball Federation expressed her enthusiasm for the tour and the return of Tonga’s national netball team to play on home soil.
“This opportunity for the Tala to have a home game, playing with the Australian pathways athletes in Tonga, is something that’s not only incredibly exciting but also a historic moment for our country,” Sisifa said.
For our national team to play in front of our home crowd…just thinking about it, I get goosebumps.”
2025 Australian Pathways Team – TALA-TUTONE Tour
Emily Andrew - VIC
Nicola Barge - NSW
Maggie Caris - VIC
Jada Delaney - QLD
Sasha-May Flegler - QLD
Paige O’Neill - TAS
Monika ‘Otai - NSW
Elsa Sif Sandholt - QLD
Ruby Shannon - VIC
Tara Watson - VIC
Reserves:
Mia Lavis - VIC
Jayden Molo - QLD
Charlotte Walker - TAS
This tour is supported by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program, an initiative which builds people-to-people links and further strengthens Australia and the Pacific’s close regional ties through a shared love of sport.
Interested in Netball Australia’s international development work? See more here.
