The South Pacific island kingdom of Tonga is in the grip of a pro-democracy riot today, with groups of young men smashing businesses and a hotel and burning down a building belonging to the state-owned power company.

Tonga’s prime minister made a bedside visit to the elderly and ailing king of the tiny Pacific island nation today, as the country made preparations for the end of one of the world’s longest reigns by any monarch.

A SERIES of aftershocks measuring up to magnitude 6.0 rocked the South Pacific island nation of Tonga into Friday morning, a day after an even more powerful quake triggered a tsunami warning.

Tonga 19 Ireland 40

Reggie Corrigan, winning his 22nd cap, will captain Ireland for the first time in their second Tour match, against Tonga in Nuku’alofa on Saturday next. Kick off is at 3.30am Irish time.

FIRST full day in the Kingdom of Tonga and the Irish rugby squad have already been given an insight into the way things are done in this most relaxed region of the world.