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Tongans green with envy

Going Green: Finau Maka has had a date with the stylists - but no scissors were involved

Tonga's senior players have dyed their hair green for Friday's clash with England in Paris in protest of their money problems.

The move comes as a response to an alleged shortfall in the funding that the International Rugby Board (IRB) had promised the cash-strapped islanders for their campaign in France.

Tui Uata, vice-president of the Tongan Rugby Union, claims that his side has only received a fraction of what was originally offered.

"I understand from our high performance officer that we have not had £110,000 [$223,000] of the £150,000 [$304,000] we are due," he told Reuters.

Tonga centre Epeli Taione concurred with Uata, pointing to the financial gulf between his country and the men they will face at Parc des Prince on Friday.

"We've had £40,000 [$82,000] - we're playing England on Friday and I don't know what other teams are on," he said.

The green hair is a tribute to the colours of Paddy Power, the Irish betting agency that has underwritten Tonga's magnificent tournament.

The visual gesture, with its nod to envy and money, comes after Tonga's first act of appreciation was disregarded: Taione changed his name by deed poll to 'Paddy Power' in acknowledgment of the sponsors, but the IRB has refused to amend his entry in the official bumff.

"They [the authorities] will go mad about this," said Taione.

"We've had a constant struggle just to get here, to train, to cover our basic needs day by day, accommodation and food - that's what makes this campaign very special and emotional."

But Adam Perrin, a spokesman for Paddy Power, was keen to depoliticise the greenery.

"It's just a laugh and we hope people don't take it too seriously. It's just a luck-of-the-Irish thing," he said.

"The IRB won't reinstate [Taione] with his changed name but this is only a bit of fun and, while we do understand the IRB have their rules, this is the team's way of thanking us."

The company's financial support, said to be in the five-figure range, allowed the Tongans to stage training camps in New Zealand and England before moving on France.

The squad has been based in a £48-a-night ($97) apartment-hotel outside Montpellier for the duration of the tournament. Rooms at England's hotel in Versailles go for us much as £400 [£810] per night.