View source for Va'aiga Tuigamala

{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league & union footballer (1969–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name               = Va'aiga Tuigamala
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}}
| image              = Va'aiga Tuigamala MNZM (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Tuigamala in 2008
| birth_name         = Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=y|1969|9|4}}
| birth_place        = [[Faleasiu]], [[A'ana]], [[Western Samoa]]
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2022|02|24|df=y|1969|9|4}}
| death_place        = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| occupation         =
| spouse             = 
| children           = 
| relatives          = [[David Tua]] (cousin)
| school             = [[Kelston Boys' High School]]
| height             = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight             = {{convert|110|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position        = [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]<br />[[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]
| amatyears1         = 
| amatteam1          = [[Ponsonby RFC|Ponsonby]]
| repyears1          = 1989–1993
| repteam1           = {{nrut|New Zealand}}
| repcaps1           = 19
| reppoints1         = 21
| repyears2          = 1996–2001
| repteam2           = {{nrut|Samoa}}
| repcaps2           = 23
| reppoints2         = 15
| years1             = 1996–1997
| clubs1             = [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]]
| years2             = 1997–2002
| clubs2             = [[Newcastle Falcons|Newcastle]]
| apps1              = 13
| points1            = 20
| apps2              = 113
| points2            = 160
| ru_province1       = [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]]
| ru_provinceyears1  = 1988–1993
| ru_provinceapps1   = 49
| ru_provincepoints1 = 140
| module = {{infobox rugby league biography | embed = yes
| position     = {{rlp|CE}}<br />[[Rugby league positions#Wing|Wing]]
| teamA        = [[Samoa national rugby league team|Samoa]]
| yearAstart   = 1995
| appearancesA = 2
| pointsA      = 8
| year1start   = 1993 | year1end = 97
| club1        = [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
| appearances1 = 102
| points1      = 254 
}}
}}

'''Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala Pulelua Fesola'i'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Match Fit Season 2 Ep 1 {{!}} DOCUMENTARY/FACTUAL {{!}} ThreeNow |url=https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/match-fit/season-2-ep-1/S2339-580/M57536-496 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=www.threenow.co.nz}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}} (4 September 1969 – 24 February 2022), often known as '''Inga Tuigamala''', was a professional [[rugby union]] and [[rugby league]] player. Born in [[Samoa]], he represented [[New Zealand national rugby union team|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.

Tuigamala began his career in rugby union, and played provincially for [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]]. He changed [[rugby football]] codes from rugby union to rugby league, and became an integral part of the successful [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] team of the 1990s. He returned to union, winning championships with [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]] and [[Newcastle Falcons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/127885209/a-heart-that-was-always-ready-to-serve-family-pays-tribute-to-exall-black-and-samoa-legend-vaaiga-tuigamala |title='A heart that was always ready to serve': Family pays tribute to ex-All Black and Samoa legend Va'aiga Tuigamala |publisher=Stuff |date=25 February 2022 |access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/wasps-get-tuigamala-1.82980 |title=Wasps get Tuigamala |publisher=Irish Times |date=4 September 1996 |access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref>

A [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]] or [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]], he was known as a powerful runner, much larger than most rugby wingers of the time.

==Early life==

Born in [[Faleasiu]], Samoa, Tuigamala and his family moved to New Zealand when he was 4 years old. He grew up in southern [[Glendene, New Zealand|Glendene]] in [[West Auckland, New Zealand|West Auckland]], New Zealand.<ref name="West-Game">{{cite book |last1=Logan |first1=Innes |chapter=Game On |pages=411–432 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}}</ref> He was from Tongan and Samoan Descent.

==Playing career==

===Rugby union===
He played in New Zealand for [[Ponsonby RFC|Ponsonby]] and [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]]. He represented New Zealand (the All Blacks) in rugby union as a winger from 1989, playing his first test match against the United States in 1991. At the time, Tuigamala was the first person born in Samoa to play for the All Blacks.<ref name="West-Game"/> He won 19 caps, including playing at the 1991 World Cup.

He was the first player to score a try worth 5 points on July 4, 1992, in a match against Australia.

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 national rugby league team|Samoa]], including at the [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|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 [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]], winning the English Premiership, and later joined [[Newcastle Falcons]] in a world record £1m deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-tyne-is-right-for-tuigamala-1279681.html |title=Rugby Union: Tyne is right for Tuigamala |work=The Independent |author=Simon Turnbull  |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6187287.wigan-to-let-1m-inga-go/ |title=Wigan to let £1m Inga go |publisher=Bolton News |date=13 February 1997 |access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/records.html?id=2529;team=249;type=tournament
|title=Allied Dunbar Premiership, 1997/98 / Newcastle Falcons / Player records
|publisher=espnscrum.com
|access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> He then delayed an arm operation to put in a Man of the Match performance in the 2001 Cup Final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1187949.stm|title=Newcastle snatch Cup glory|publisher=BBC|date=24 February 2001|access-date=26 December 2009}}</ref> Upon signing for the Falcons, teammate [[Doddie Weir]] called Tuigamala "simply the best rugby player in the world".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/newcastle-falcons-ask-players-to-be-furloughed/5/ |title=Newcastle Falcons ask players to be furloughed |publisher=Ruck |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>

He made his début for [[Samoa national rugby union team|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 was known for his Christian faith, and in particular for the influence he had on [[Jason Robinson (rugby)|Jason Robinson]], a teammate at Wigan. Tuigamala shared his Christian faith, though it wasn't until some time later that Robinson became a Christian.

==Post-playing==
Following the end of his rugby career, he acted as advisor for his cousin [[David Tua]], a professional heavyweight boxer, and ran 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/inga-honoured-to-serve-king/XJIKQVYEV56L7CYICTNGNWKY4Q/ |title=Inga honoured to serve King |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=12 September 2006 |access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2008 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2008 Queen's Birthday Honours]], Tuigamala was appointed a [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for services to rugby and the community.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2008 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2008 |date=2 June 2008 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>

In October 2009, he travelled to Samoa with David Tua to see how they could assist in the aftermath of the [[Samoa tsunami]].<ref name="NZ_Herald_10602166">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/samoa-tsunami/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502844&objectid=10602166|title=Be strong, have faith, says Tua|author=Tapaleao, Vaimoana|date=9 October 2009|work= [[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref>

On 22 May 2014, he promoted a boxing event at the Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/692084 |title=Boxrec Event profile |date=29 May 2014 |publisher=Boxrec |access-date=25 February 2022}}</ref> The event was broadcast by New Zealand's Sky TV on pay-per-view. In the event, he and his two sons all fought, with all three winning their respective bouts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/10074955/Three-from-three-for-the-Tuigamala-family |title=Three-from-three for the Tuigamala family |date=29 May 2014 |publisher=Stuff NZ |access-date=25 February 2022}}</ref>

Tuigamala completed season two of ''Match Fit'' to regain match fitness after suffering from sleep apnoea and type II diabetes, which was reversed by late 2021, and in the second season in 2021/22, he revealed he had adopted a plant-based diet, and had very healthy blood cholesterol levels. Despite that, he also suffered from [[gout]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tokalau |first=Torika |date=2022-06-15 |title=Inga Tuigamala's family on why the All Blacks legend joined reality show Match Fit |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128947183/inga-tuigamalas-family-on-why-the-all-blacks-legend-joined-reality-show-match-fit |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> By the end of New Zealand's second COVID-19 lockdown, both his and [[Brad Mika|Brad Mika's]] knees had recovered enough to bike. He was then able to reverse his diabetes. However, he was forced to leave day 2 of the [[Rugby union|union]] vs. [[Rugby league|league]] multi-sport relay due to a family emergency.

Tuigamala died on 24 February 2022, at the age of 52.<ref>{{cite news |title=Va'aiga 'Inga' Tuigamala, All Black and cross-code star, dies aged 52 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-league/vaaiga-inga-tuigamala-dead-samoa-all-blacks-wigan-b2022272.html |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=The Independent |date=24 February 2022 }}</ref> At the time of his death, he had [[high blood pressure]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/vaaiga-tuigamala-former-all-blacks-winger-dies-at-52/a476dfff-65a7-4af6-b9c2-887c72576396|title=Rugby world mourns All Blacks 'icon' dead at 52|website=wwos.nine.com.au}}</ref> and had suffered a stroke in 2013.

In 2025, Tuigamala was posthumously inducted into the [[Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/556362/seven-more-rugby-legends-to-be-inducted-into-pasifika-rugby-hall-of-fame-in-auckland |title=Seven more rugby legends to be inducted into Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame in Auckland |date=28 March 2025 |first=Iliesa |last=Tora |work=[[RNZ News]] |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{All Blacks|new_id=Inga-Tuigamala-AB-900|old_id=900|name=Inga Tuigamala}}
* {{ESPNscrum|name=Inga Tuigamala}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224202907/http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1001 |date=24 February 2022 |title=Va'aiga (Inga) Tuigamala at the Wigan Warriors RL Fan Site}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927211046/http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplaySS.ink?skip=28&squadno=7350&season=96%2F97&seasonl=1996%2F1997&Playertype=P |date=27 September 2008 |title=Va'aiga Tuigamala at the London Wasps}}

{{Wigan RLFC - 1994 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1994 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1995 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{1996 Super League Dream Team}}
{{All Blacks Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{Western Samoa 1995 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Samoa Squad 1999 World Cup}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuigamala, Va'aiga}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:20th-century Samoan sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Samoan sportsmen]]
[[Category:Dual-code rugby internationals]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:New Zealand Christians]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players]]
[[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Falcons players]]
[[Category:People educated at Kelston Boys' High School]]
[[Category:People from A'ana]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from A'ana]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Samoa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Samoa national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Samoan emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:Samoan expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Samoan expatriate rugby league players]]
[[Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:Samoan rugby league players]]
[[Category:Samoan rugby union players]]
[[Category:Wasps RFC players]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]