Va'aiga Tuigamala
| Full name | Va'aiga Tuigamala | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Inga the Winger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 4 September 1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Faleasiu, Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Kelston Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | David Tua (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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)) |
| Position(s) | Wing, Centre | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand No. | 900 | ||
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1988–1993 1996–1997 1997–2002 |
Auckland Wasps Newcastle |
13 113 |
( (20) (160)) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1989–1993 1996–2001 |
New Zealand Samoa |
19 23 |
((21) (15)) |
Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala MNZM (born 4 September 1969) is a Samoan rugby footballer. As well as playing for New Zealand, he represented Samoa in both rugby union and rugby league, playing at centre and wing. As a rugby union player, he was known as a powerful runner, physically much larger than most typical wings. In rugby league, also playing as a centre, he became an integral part of the very successful 1990s' Wigan team.
Born in Faleasiu, Samoa, Tuigamala played for Ponsonby and Auckland domestically, and represented New Zealand in rugby union as a winger from 1989, playing his first test match against the USA in 1991, and becoming widely known as Inga the Winger before converting to rugby league with Wigan in 1993. His biography Inga the Winger by Bob Howitt was published in 1993.
Va'aiga Tuigamala played Centre, i.e. number 3, (replaced by Interchange/Substitute Paul Atcheson on 56-minutes) and scored 2-tries in Wigan's 40-10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995, and played Centre, i.e. number 3, and scored a try in the 25-16 victory over St. Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1995–96 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.
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