Black armbands mark loss of two giants of the game
The Blues and Hurricanes have paid tribute to ‘‘two players who could light up the world with a brilliant try, or just a brilliant smile’’.
Those were the poignant words of Sky TV commentator Tony Johnson as he described Va’aiga Tuigamala and Joeli Vidiri – who both died in the past two days – after the moment’s silence staged prior to last night’s Super Rugby Pacific match in Dunedin.
Both teams and officials wore black armbands and lined up pregame at a crowd-less Forsyth Barr Stadium to pay their respects to the two former All Blacks.
A night earlier, the Highlanders and Crusaders both gathered in huddles to remember Tuigamala, and after news of Vidiri’s death came later on Friday night, it made for a doubly sombre start to yesterday’s action.
‘‘Well the looks on the faces of the players say it all, really,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘Two players who inspired a generation of youngsters. Two players who could light up the world with a brilliant try, or just a brilliant smile. A huge outpouring of sadness and loss right around the rugby and rugby league world over the last couple of days.’’
Speaking on the Sky TV coverage prior to last night’s game, former All Blacks back Mils Muliaina remembered both men, noting how as a young Pacific Islander himself how special it was to connect with Tuigamala at age 12, when the wing was on his book tour.
‘‘What he did for Pasifika people and the generation, it was an inspiration, absolutely amazing.’’
As for Vidiri, his last season at the Blues happened to be Muliaina’s first, and they formed a unique relationship.
‘‘I was privileged again, to meet this great man, I was a youngster, and I was basically his slave,’’ Muliaina quipped.
‘‘He made me do everything that he needed done – clean his boots and everything.
‘‘But an amazing person, an absolute character, the stuff he did on the field, sensational.
‘‘Two great men, and they’ll be sorely missed.’’