Toʻo Vaega Explained

Toʻo Vaega
Birth Name:Toʻo Malo Vaega
Birth Place:Motoʻotua, Samoa
Height:1.80 m
Weight:900NaN0
Ru Position:Centre
Amatyears1:1988-1990
Amatyears2:1991
Amatyears3:1995-1997
Amatyears4:2000
Amatteam1:Suburbs
Amatteam2:Hastings High School Old Boys
Amatteam3:Star Rugby Club
Amatteam4:Waitakere City
Repyears1:1986-2001
Repcaps1:61
Reppoints1:71
Years1:1993-1994
Clubs1:Moataʻa
Superyears1:1996–97
Superyears2:2000
Super1:Highlanders
Super2:Blues
Superapps1:13
Superapps2:1
Superpoints1:20
Superpoints2:0
Provinceyears1:1988-1990
Provinceyears2:1990-1991
Provinceyears3:1991
Provinceyears4:1992
Provinceyears5:1995-1997
Provinceyears6:2000
Province1:Auckland
Province2:Auckland B
Province3:Hawke's Bay
Province4:Auckland
Province5:Southland
Province6:Bay of Plenty[1]
Relatives:Cardiff Vaega (son)
Birth Date:17 August 1965

Toʻo Vaega (born 17 August 1965) is a retired professional rugby union footballer, best known for his long career with the Samoan national team.

Vaega was born in Motoʻotua.

Career

Vaega made his debut for Samoa against Wales on 14 June 1986, starting one of the longest international careers in modern rugby union history. By the time of his final cap against Ireland on 11 November 2001, he had represented his country 61 times in a 15-year period.

Vaega starred for Samoa in three World Cups, but is most remembered for scoring a critical try in Samoa's historic 16–13 victory over Wales in Cardiff during the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Outside of his duties with the Samoan national team, Vaega enjoyed a long club career in New Zealand, most notably with Southland and the Highlanders in the mid-1990s. He was an original Highlander in the first Super 12 campaign in 1996, and set a franchise record with three tries in a match that year against Western Province, a record he shares to this day.

Vaega's son Cardiff Vaega, named for the site of Samoa's victory over Wales in 1991,[2] is currently playing for Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup competition.[3]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/too-m-v-vaega Toʻo M. V. Vaega at New Zealand Rugby History
  2. News: Name celebrates Samoa's first World Cup win . Egan, Brendon . 4 March 2011 . . 23 November 2011.
  3. Web site: Rugby: Vaega brothers set for ITM showdown . New Zealand Herald . 11 September 2015 . 1 October 2023.