‘lnga the Winger’

Sport

Nows to stay

'a’aiga Tuigamala’s lecision to stick to jgby union brings relief

By Atama Raganivatu

UGBY union superstar Va’aiga iiigamala’s announcement that he had sisted the temptation to become a illionaire overnight and would decline i offer to play rugby league in Britain ought a collective sigh of relief from sw Zealand that was probably heard roughout the rest of the Pacific.

Even though he has been a test player r less than two years, an All Blacks am without Tuigamala is now almost conceivable. If any player was destined become a rugby great, it is he. While 11 a teenager, he could claim a record imber of tries in Auckland secondary aool competitions during a single year; e highest ever number of touchdowns an individual in one Auckland senior ade club season; three tries against the 1 Blacks when appearing for New aland’s reserve selection in a trial me; another hat-trick for the national ider-21 XV versus their Australian unterparts and five (one short of the :ord) when Auckland’s first team fended the historic Ranfurly Shield

ainst Mid Canberbury.

It was during this early stage of his reer that one Kiwi radio commentator, ding the young Samoan’s name (pro

unced Vie-ing-er Too-ing-ah-mah

-0 too great a mouthful to overcome, rented a simple sobriquet. And so, the it of “Inga the Winger” was born.

Fuigamala’s immense popularity is e to both prowess on the rugby field power, speed and exuberance are h that spectators automatically hold ;ir breath whenever he receives the il and exemplary conduct off it. His irkling personality and admirable style (he is a -devout Christian and

committed family man) distinguish him as an ideal role model for the young, as well as a much sought after conveyor of advertising agents’ messages.

The 24-year-old regularly visits

schools to give talks and makes a point of chatting informally to youngsters while signing autographs after matches, irrespective of his teams’ performances.

Despite being regularly targeted for vigorous tackles, he has never been known to retaliate.

Tuigamala’s commercial endorse ments, which include Pepsi Cola, cheese and the All Blacks Supporters’ Club, have made him a familiar figure to even those New Zealanders with absolutely no interest in rugby union. It is very doubtful if his Tongan father and Samoan mother envisaged such a re markable future for the ninth member of their family (which eventually grew to 15) when they left Apia in 1973, seeking a better life in New Zealand.

Tuigamala was then just three and he does not recall arriving in his adopted country. Memories of moving to Auck land, after four years in the southern city of Invercargill, are only a little less hazy.

It was in Auckland that he first took an interest in rugby. Because of his size, Tuigamala started as a forward but had been converted to a winger by his mid

teens and not solely because of his speed; so astonishing for someone of such bulk. “I was too greedy,” he now sheepishly concedes. “I just wanted the ball all the time.”

This reluctance to pass was also evident when he stepeed up to senior level. However, after only a handful of first class games, it was not a matter of “if’ he would become an All Black but rather “when”. Tuigamala first donned the coveted black jersey in 1989 but a spate of injuries and the inability to quickly regain match fitness after lengthy lay offs delayed his test debut until two years later.

An admitted weakness for hamburgers and milkshakes had been responsible for his weight fluctuating between 94 kilograms when fully fit and 105 kilograms whilst sidelined. After a patchy 1991 World Cup campaign and inconsis tent performances the following year, the current season has seen the tank-like winger “come of age” on the interna tional scene.

Few world argue that, on current form, Tuigamala is among the best rugby union wingers in the world. His hunger for work, efficiency in defence and passing ability have developed remark ably over the past few months. However it is as a scorer of spectacular tries that he has become such a firm crowd favourite.

Tuigamala is not only a great try scorer but a scorer of great tries. His effort last year against the Rest of the World, when evading or pushing off half a dozen would-be-tacklers before dotting down, is particularly memorable.

Having just passed his 24th birthday, Tuigamala can be confidently expected to produce many more equally awesome moments of brilliance. A whole nation is thankful that a fair proportion of them will be conjured up while serving the All Blacks.

In announcing the rejection of the British rugby league offer, he gave a revealing insight into his character and values. “I had to be honest with myself and do what’s right for my family and me” he stated. “Money has never been a priority in my life. After much deliberation, I decided that staying in New Zealand was the best option for us.

“It would have been difficult for my wife and two sons to adjust to life in England. The financial benefits offered were attractive but I am content with my career at Pepsi Cola (his employer). It allows me to play rugby, still have time for my family and provides opportunities to give something back to the kids of New Zealand.

Tuigamala: the Samoans could not have hoped for a better ambasador

Many of those “kids of New Zealand” are, of course, young Pacific islanders from the poorer suburbs of Auckland and

Wellington.

Tuigamala has always been proud of his Samoan heritage and, aware of how baseball star Joe Di Maggio and boxer Rocky Marciano made invaluable con tributions to the advancement of Ame rica’s Italian community, he too realises his potential to influence.

In a later interview, Tuigamala reiter ated: “I am fortunate in being in a job which enables me to get out and have some real imput with my own Pacific island people, helping them come to terms with mainstream society here.

“I want them to say ‘Hey, Inga’s a Polynesian and he’s achieved his ulti

mate goal through adapting the palangi

lifestyle’. I want them to know it’s OK to open up and have a go at things in life

and not be scared about it. There are fa too many talented Polynesian peopl here who are just too scared to open up “I’d like to see myself as helping t( open doors and break downn barriers fo Polynesians to live a happy life in Ne\ Zealand. It is hard. My parent struggled. They took the initiative bu when we first came here it was real! hard.”

The Samoan people could not possibl have a finer ambassador. 0