| His last appearance as a Rugby Union player was on the New Zealand All Blacks' tour of Britain in 1993. His last game was on 4 December against the Barbarians. He marked his departure with a try.
Shortly afterwards it was announced that he was signing for Wigan on a lucrative four year contract to play Rugby League. He joined the team half way through the 1993-94 season and helped Wigan complete a treble of league, cup and premiership. Since then he has helped Wigan secure their position as the leading Rugby League club in Britain if not the World and has played in the 1995 World Cup. All of this is a far cry from his early life in Western Samoa....
"I was born on the Polynesian island of Western Samoa in 1969. I was one of 14 children and fortunate in that the presence of God was instilled in me at an early age. Even when we moved to New Zealand when I was 4 years old, church and Sunday were important parts of our lives.
My passion was for sport and, like many youngsters, I was so caught up with it that I had little time for working out "the meaning of life".
In my teens my sports career, especially rugby took off. I lived for sport an my social life. My family and God were way back in third and fourth places. Then some of my friends joined a youth fellowship, set up to encourage youngsters to consider the claims of Jesus Christ.
I was pretty stubborn but I had noticed that many of these lads had a joy and peace which was very real to them. I also had an economics teacher who was a Christian. She explained to me that I needed to give my life to Christ, and be forgiven. She said I needed to be born again.
This happened in 1986. Rugby became the platform from which I could share my faith. This is something which has become - more and more - a privilege to do.
It is quite amazing how people do not bat an eyelid if you are into the new age movement or Eastern religion, but if you say you are a born-again Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, they "freak out".
Preconceived ideas rob people of the truth and simplicity of following Jesus. My words of advice would be to pick up a Bible - get a modern translation - read the words of God, read about life and death and what happens afterwards.
In 1 Corinthians 7:31 it says "this world in its present form is passing away". I am under no illusions! My rugby career will soon be over. In due course my life will come to an end. When I die I want to know that I am right with God."
From the Sports New Testament "Go For It!" Europäische Sportunion (ECSU), Kölner Str. 23a, D-57610 Altenkirchen
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