Alamoni Liavaʻa Explained

Alamoni Liavaʻa
Birth Name:Epalahame Liavaʻa
Birth Place:Tonga
Height:1,70 m
Weight:82 kg
School:Auckland Grammar School
Relatives:Sione Liavaʻa (brother)
Ru Currentteam:--
Ru Position:Centre
Youthyears1: 
Ru Province1:Hihifo Rugby Club[1]
Superyears1: 
Repyears1:1979-1987
Repcaps1:15
Reppoints1:(33)

Epalahame Liavaʻa, better known as Alamoni Liavaʻa (born circa 1959) is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as centre. He is known by his nickname "Moni"

Career

His first cap for Tonga was against England, in Nuku'alofa, on 1 June 1979. Between 1985 and 1987, Liava'a captained Tonga.[2] He was also present in the 1987 Rugby World Cup squad, where he was the vice-captain.[3] He played all the three pool stage matches and scored a conversion kick in the match against Wales. His last match for Tonga was also in that year's World Cup, against Ireland, in Brisbane. He also represented Tonga in rugby league at the 1986 Pacific Cup.[4]

After career and deportation

In the 1993, years after his retirement as rugby player, Liavaʻa got involved with the drug trafficking business.[5] He smuggled cocaine to New Zealand by stuffing it inside yams. He also had contacts with the Hawaii-based drug boss Richard "Tiki" Taumoepeau.[6] After being caught by the New Zealand Police through wiretapping, Liavaʻa was put under surveillance and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and deported back to Tonga, where he lives a hermit-like lifestyle on the west of Tongatapu.[7]

Personal life

He is the brother of the late Sione Liava'a, former chairman of the Tonga Public Service Commission.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://scontent.fbgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/87049227_512544686063405_812184474656702464_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=hExmQdzuStoAX8vOhah&_nc_ht=scontent.fbgy1-1.fna&oh=9b7b79f839c19cc5a424f9991d729383&oe=61AF24A5 Tonga Rugby League 1986 Pacific Cup team
  2. Web site: Deportation order upheld for leader of cocaine gang. 2021-04-29. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  3. Web site: 2016-11-05 . Corruption in Paradise: From the Rugby World Cup, to cocaine smuggling, to life as a hermit . 2024-06-29 . stuff.co.nz.
  4. Web site: 1986 . Wayback Machine . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211108162043/https://scontent.fbgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/87049227_512544686063405_812184474656702464_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=hExmQdzuStoAX8vOhah&_nc_ht=scontent.fbgy1-1.fna&oh=9b7b79f839c19cc5a424f9991d729383&oe=61AF24A5 . 2021-11-08 . 2024-06-29 . fbcdn.net.
  5. News: Deportation order upheld for leader of cocaine gang. GREGORY. ANGELA. 2001-03-18. NZ Herald. 2018-06-07. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
  6. Web site: Corruption in Paradise . Tony wall and Blair Ensor . Stuff . 2 December 2020.
  7. Web site: Corruption in Paradise: From the Rugby World Cup, to cocaine smuggling, to life as a hermit . Tony wall and Blair Ensor . Stuff . 6 November 2016 . 2 December 2020.
  8. Web site: Stuff . 2024-06-29 . www.stuff.co.nz.