Brian Lima

Brian Pala Lima (born 25 January 1972) is a Samoan former rugby union player who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.[2] He earned the nickname of "The Chiropractor" for his shuddering hits both on and off the pitch that supposedly rearranged the bones of the victim.

Brian Lima

Birth name	Brian Pala Lima
Date of birth	(1972-01-25) 25 January 1972
Place of birth	Apia, Samoa
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	95 kg (14 st 13 lb; 209 lb)
School	St Joseph's College St. Patricks College
Spouse	Sina Lima
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1992–1996 Ponsonby () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1990-1992 1999–01 2001–02 2003–04 2005 2005–07 Marist St. Joseph's Stade Français Swansea Secom Rugguts Munster Bristol 12 7 0 23 (5) (0) (0) (25) Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1992–1999 Auckland[1] 30 (105) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1996 1997–98 1999 Highlanders Blues Highlanders 11 12 13 (30) (35) (35) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1990–07 2004 Samoa Pacific Islanders 64 2 (140) (0) National sevens team(s) Years Team Comps 1993–2005 Samoa

National team

Lima was born in Apia, Samoa. He debuted for the Samoa national rugby union team in 1990. He featured in Samoa's famous World Cup win over Wales in 1991, and he was the youngest player at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

One of Lima's most illuminating moments came in Samoa's match against South Africa in a group match at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. As Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard leapt up in the air to catch a hospital pass, Lima "dive-tackled" him, sending Hougaard crashing to the ground..

Lima was the first player to appear in five World Cups, his fifth being the 2007 World Cup in France, in which he came on against South Africa in Samoa's first game after 60 minutes. According to the Samoa Observer, Lima announced that he would retire after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Michael Jones, the Samoa coach (at that time), announced Lima as the captain for the first game of that year's Pacific Nations Cup. Brian Lima was selected to lead Samoa against Fiji. This game was one of Brian's last games on Samoan soil.

Lima also played for the Samoa national rugby sevens team. He scored 17 tries in various Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, ranking him third all-time in career World Cup Sevens tries.[3]

Professional

Lima signed for Munster after an impressive game for the southern hemisphere vs the northern hemisphere in a fundraising game for the 2004 tsunami. However Lima was injured shortly after landing in Ireland and never got to pull on the Munster jersey. He has also played for the Blues, Auckland, the Highlanders, and Secom in Japan. He signed a two-year deal with Bristol starting in the 2005–06 season.

References

1. Brian Pala Lima at New Zealand Rugby History
2. "RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
3. http://fijisun.com.fj/2009/03/07/serevi-vunibaka-still-stand-tall/

External links

• Quinn, Keith (15 August 2007). "Quinn: Lima gets my vote". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
• "Brian Lima". bristolrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
• "Brian Lima". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
• Bio in DC
• Brian Pala Lima at New Zealand Rugby History
• "Manu Samoa supporters website". Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
• "Pacific Islanders Rugby Teams supporters website". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
• Brian Lima at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series