Tongan league coach Kristian Woolf is crediting the contribution of his players for pioneering a change to the international calendar

Those such as Jason Taumalolo, David Fusitu'a and Andrew Fifita defected from New Zealand and Australia to Tonga before last year's World Cup.

Since then, Tonga has become a force on the international scene, earning them matches against the Kiwis, Kangaroos and Great Britain on a rolling schedule starting next year.

Woolf says the contests are going to draw interest and excite the players more.

He says what will happen is a flow-on effect to a more competitive international game and more players committing to the other small nations like Fiji and Samoa.