page_title: Kailao
section_title: Sipi Tau
hierarchical_section_title: Kailao / Sipi Tau
caption_attribution_description: English: Tonga College students performing a Kailao dance; photo James Foster 1988.jpg
context_page_description: The Kailao is a Tongan cultural dance. Its origin is from Wallis and Futuna.
context_section_description: The Tonga rugby union national team's pre-game challenge, the Sipi Tau was penned by King Tama Tu'i Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV in 1994, but its origins can be traced back much further. In Tonga in the pre-1800s there were no challenges before war. Indeed, talking was considered a sign of weakness in battle. But in the 19th century a war dance was introduced from the neighbouring Wallis and Futuna Islands and Tonga quickly annexed it.
  There have been several different Sipi Tau used by the Tongan rugby team over the years, but it is unsure when they were first used in rugby. The latest one was composed in honour of a short, successful tour of New Zealand in 1994. The current words were first used in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
caption: Tonga College students performing a kailao for the King's 70th birthday (1988)
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