Brotherly love of rugby big boost for Auckland
ONE of Auckland’s rising stars won’t be playing in today’s Battle of the Bridge against North Harbour, but another one will be making his starting debut.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi has been forced to sit this game out after injuring his thumb in last weekend’s win over Counties Manukau and he will find out in the next few days whether his season is over.
‘‘I will probably be able to play next week, but it is broken,’’ Tu’ungafasi told Sunday News.
‘‘I will see a specialist on Wednesday to find out if it is OK, otherwise I will have to have surgery.
‘‘If I have to, it will take three to four weeks to heal, so that’s the end of the season for me.’’
Tu’ungafasi has signed to play for the Blues next year and had already put pen to paper for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. There is potential for his family to emulate the Whitelocks at Canterbury and the Crusaders in the future.
Ofa’s brother Isieli is playing for Auckland Under 18 East, Victor is with Auckland Under 16 South and Seleti the Under 14 South team. Their father, Mofuiki Tu’ungafasi played for Tonga at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, so naturally rugby has been a strong influence on Ofa and his nine brothers and two sisters.
Having been part of the New Zealand side that made it to the Under 20 World Cup in South Africa, Ofa has already become a well-known face in rugby, but winger Lolagi Visinia will be making his run-on debut for Auckland today.
Visinia, who scored 14 tries for Suburbs this season, has played sevens for New Zealand this year and was in the New Zealand secondary schools team in 2011.
He is a quick and powerful winger in the mould of Josevata Rokocoko and has been tipped for great things.
‘‘It is a huge privilege and honour to get my first start,’’ said Visinia.
‘‘I’ve been waiting for this chance and hopefully I take it.
Although he is only 19, the Blues are in real need of wings for next season and if Visinia can impress in the last few weeks of the season, there’s a possibility he’ll grab one of the last few spots in the Blues team. ‘‘That’s my next goal,’’ he said. ‘‘To get a Super Rugby contract and hopefully with the Blues because that’s the team that I always dreamed of playing for.’’