Man Mountain’s climb to his personal Everest
● Born May 12
● Of Tongan heritage, he grew up in Mangere, one of the poorer areas of Auckland.
● Witnessed the death of a cousin in a machete attack in a shopping mall in South Auckland and sent to Tonga.
● Attended Wesley College in Pukekohe, where he ran sub-11second for 100 metres and made the school’s top rugby side in the fourth form, gaining national selections in age group teams as a number eight.
● Selected for the New Zealand Sevens side for the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament where he piqued the interest of All Blacks’ coach Laurie Mains.
● Became the youngest All Blacks Test player aged 19 years 45 days against France where he looked totally lost on the wing and exposed by Emile Ntamack.
1995 WORLD CUP ● Included in pre-World Cup training camps, the 1.96 metres tall and 120kg winger was considered unfit for the fast-paced game plan favoured by Mains and ordered to improve his fitness.
● Named in World Cup squad. Made his first appearance against Ireland, scoring two tries.
● Exploded onto the world stage with four tries against England, including one where he was offbalance but still managed to trample over the top of England fullback Mike Catt to score.
● Reportedly considered offers from NFL teams after the World Cup, but signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union as the game went professional.
1975
in
Auckland. LATER CAREER ● Became a certainty in subsequent All Blacks teams but performances began tapering off in 1998 as the effects of the debilitating nephritic syndrome attacked his kidneys.
● Named in 1999 World Cup squad, scoring six tries, and was at his rampaging best with two more tries in the semifinal against France, who secured a 43-31 upset.
● Continued to battle with the disease until 2001 when his performances and emergence of other players had made him a squad rather than starting player. Played his final Test match against Wales in November 2002 having scored 37 tries for his country.
● Underwent a transplant in 2004 when a kidney was donated by a personal friend and attempted a return to rugby.
● Joined Cardiff Blues on a short-term contract but broke an ankle in April 2006 and returned to New Zealand hoping to get a Super Rugby contract and make the 2007 World Cup squad.
● Failed to secure a Super Rugby contract and retired in 2007.
● Involved as an ambassador for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, although his donated kidney began to fail and he was forced to undergo dialysis while waiting for another transplant.
● Returned to South Africa in 2015 to film a documentary on the impact of his 1995 exploits and also travelled to the Rugby World Cup in England.
● Arrived back in New Zealand on November 17, but died unexpectedly the following day. He was 40. — Reuters