page_title: Va'aiga Tuigamala
hierarchical_section_title: Va'aiga Tuigamala
caption_attribution_description: English: Va'aiga Tuigamala, after his investiture as MNZM, for services to rugby and the community, at Government House, Auckland, on 26 September 2008.
context_page_description: Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala MNZM, 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 and rugby union. He played in one rugby league and two rugby union World Cups.
  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.
context_section_description: 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.
  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.
caption: Tuigamala in 2008
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