Alamoni Liavaʻa

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

Alamoni Liavaʻa

Birth name	Epalahame Liavaʻa
Date of birth	1959 (age 60–61)
Place of birth	Tonga
Height	1,70 m
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
School	Auckland Grammar School
Notable relative(s)	Sione Liavaʻa (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Current team -- National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1979-1987 Tonga 15 ((33))

Career

Liavaʻa was first cap for Tonga was against England, in Nuku'alofa, on 1 June 1979. He was also present in the 1987 Rugby World Cup squad, where he was the vice-captain.[1] 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.

After career and deportation

In the 1993, years after his retirement as rugby player, Liavaʻa got involved with the drug trafficking business.[2] He smuggled cocaine to New Zealand by stuffing it inside yams.[3] He also had contacts with the Hawaii-based drug boss Richard "Tiki" Taumoepeau.[4] After being caught by the New Zealand Police through wiretapping, Liavaʻa was put under surveillance and was charged with 12-year imprisonment and was deported back to Tonga, where he lives a hermit-like lifestyle on the west of Tongatapu.

Personal life

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

Notes

1. Corrpution in Paradise: From the Rugby World Cup, to cocaine smuggling, to life as a hermit stuff.co.nz
2. GREGORY, ANGELA (2001-03-18). "Deportation order upheld for leader of cocaine gang". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
3. Marianas Variety Vol. 25, No. 33, Page 7 1998-04-29
4. Corruption in Paradise Australia Samoa News

External links

• Alamoni Liavaʻa International statistics