Pacific Womens Sports Leadership
Salome Vaenuku – Tonga
Salome Sela Vaenuku is a Tongan woman with an everlasting passion for sports. She has been a proud representative of her country in international rugby tournaments since she was a child and has since grown into one of the most influential figures in Pacific women’s rugby. Salome has dedicated her life to promoting women’s rugby in Tonga and beyond and helping young girls embrace the sport.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a teacher for Movement and Fitness at Queen Salote College, the only all-female school in Tonga, Salome has a unique opportunity to inspire young girls to pursue their dreams, regardless of cultural obstacles. She has formed new women’s teams in Tonga and volunteered her time to train and empower young female rugby players. Her tireless efforts have already led to an increase in participation in young girls u18 rugby in Tonga, and she is now setting out to raise it by 20% in the 2024 rugby season.
She is also looking to obtain funding to develop coaches, with a focus on including women coaches, to deliver rugby training in schools and communities for young girls. Finally, we will run tournaments that encourage participation and fun, creating an environment where young girls feel empowered to express themselves and discover the joy of team sport.
She is excited to embark on this journey and hopes to inspire young women to follow their passion for sports, especially in Rugby. Salome is looking forward to increasing her knowledge and skills to promote women in sports and interact with Pacific Women in Sports Leadership Program.
