Famed Christian rugby player dies

The Christian and rugby worlds have paid tribute to Va’aiga (‘Inga the winger’) Tuigamala, who died recently aged 52.

He represented the New Zealand All Blacks in 19 Test Matches, including at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He then switched codes to Rugby League, where he played in the great Wigan Warriors side of the mid-1990s, which beat the Brisbane Broncos in the 1994 World Club Challenge.

Tuigamala was also renowned for his faith – in its tribute the BBC called him a ‘devout Christian’. In 2012 he wrote that, before he became a Christian, ‘I lived for sport and my social life. Then some of my friends joined a youth fellowship, set up to encourage youngsters to consider the claims of Jesus Christ. 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.

‘1 Corinthians 7:31 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.’

Tuigamala also had a huge influence on teammate Jason Robinson, who described how he was flying on the pitch for Wigan but the rest of his life was out of control. ‘Had it not been for Va’aiga I might not be here now. I remember he told me that he had dreamt about me the night before. “I saw you stood on the top of the world. But as I watched, slowly everything began to crumble beneath your feet.” He was so right. I was a troubled soul.

‘Inga had no interest in material things. He was a Christian and his faith gave him a peace and contentedness I didn’t have. I realised I wanted – and needed – some of what Inga had. With the help of a teammate and a faith I was able to turn myself around’.