Va'aiga Tuigamala

Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala MNZM (born 4 September 1969), sometimes known as Inga Tuigamala, is a former professional rugby union and rugby league player. Born in Samoa, he represented New Zealand in rugby union, winning 19 caps, and later Samoa in both rugby league (two caps) and rugby union (23 caps). He played in one rugby league and two rugby union World Cups.

Va'aiga Tuigamala
Tuigamala in 2008
Birth nameVa'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala
Date of birth (1969-09-04) 4 September 1969
Place of birthFaleasiu, Samoa
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 240 lb)
SchoolKelston Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)David Tua (cousin)
Rugby league career
Position(s) Centre
Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1993–1997 Wigan 102 (254)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995 Samoa 2 (8)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Centre
All Black No. 900
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Ponsonby ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996–1997 Wasps 13 (20)
1997–2002 Newcastle 113 (160)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–1993 Auckland ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989–1993 New Zealand 19 (21)
1996–2001 Samoa 23 (15)

Tuigamala began his career in rugby union, and played provincially for Auckland. He changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league, and became an integral part of the successful Wigan team of the 1990s. He changed rugby football codes from rugby league to rugby union after rugby union became professional, he played in England, winning championships with London Wasps and Newcastle Falcons.

A centre or wing, he was known as a powerful runner, much larger than most wings in rugby union.

Playing career

Rugby union

Born in Faleasiu, Samoa, Tuigamala played in New Zealand for Ponsonby and Auckland. He represented New Zealand (the All Blacks) in rugby union as a winger from 1989, playing his first test match against the US in 1991. He won 19 caps, including playing at the 1991 world Cup.

Nicknamed Inga the Winger, he converted to rugby league, signing with English club Wigan in 1993. His biography Inga the Winger by Bob Howitt was also published in 1993.

Rugby league

In rugby league, Tuigamala markedly improved his fitness and played as a centre in a very strong and successful Wigan team, winning several trophies over four seasons. Tuigamala played from the interchange bench in Wigan's 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, in Brisbane.

He also played international rugby league for Samoa, including at the 1995 World Cup. At the end of 1996's Super League I, Tuigamala was named at centre in the Super League Dream Team.

Return to rugby union

When rugby union became openly professional in 1995, Tuigamala was one of a number of former rugby union players who returned from rugby league. He played for London Wasps, winning the English Premiership, and later joined Newcastle Falcons in a world record £1m deal. He scored a hat-trick on his third appearance for Newcastle against Moseley at Kingston Park and was an important part of the 1998 Championship-winning side, making 16 appearances that season.[1] He then delayed an arm operation to put in a Man of the Match performance in the 2001 Cup Final.[2] Upon signing for the Falcons, teammate Doddie Weir called Tuigamala "simply the best rugby player in the world".

He made his début for Western Samoa in 1996 against Ireland, going on to play 23 test matches, scoring 3 tries. He was an important part of the Samoa squad at the 1999 World Cup.

He has been known for his Christian faith, and in particular for the influence he had on Jason Robinson, a teammate at Wigan. His contentment in life with God was something deeply moving for Robinson, and over their months of friendship, Tuigamala shared his Christian faith, though it wasn't until some time later that Robinson became a Christian.

Post-playing

Since the end of his rugby career, he has acted as advisor for his cousin David Tua, a professional heavyweight boxer, and currently runs a funeral director company, "Tuigamala and Sons of Glendene" for which the most notable client to date was the late King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV .

In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Tuigamala was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby and the community.[3]

In October 2009, he travelled to Samoa with David Tua to see how they could assist in the aftermath of the Samoa tsunami.[4]

References
  1. "Allied Dunbar Premiership, 1997/98 / Newcastle Falcons / Player records". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  2. "Newcastle snatch Cup glory". BBC. 24 February 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  3. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. Tapaleao, Vaimoana (9 October 2009). "Be strong, have faith, says Tua". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2011.

Ingas latest book is Inga: My Story and offers insight into his life on and off the field of rugby. It is a more comprehensive look at Ingas life. For more info visit http://www.ingathewinger.com/

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