Former Rugby Star Sentenced for Brutal Rape | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 27, 2026 · 1m

A former rugby league star turned convicted rapist, Tangiia Tongia, has been handed an eight-year-and-three-month prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual violation. The brutal attack occurred at the victim’s home in July 2024, following a dispute that escalated into a violent, forceful assault — described by the judge as a “frantic rape” where the victim struggled to breathe. Though Tongia admitted to the crime post-incident, he denied it during trial, earning the judge’s scorn for his “pig-headed denial.” The victim, left shattered and traumatized, confided in a…