Peter Fatialofa

Papali'itele Peter Momoe Fatialofa MNZM (Samoan: Pita Fatialofa) (26 April 1959 – 6 November 2013) was a Samoan rugby player[2] who captained Samoa in their first Rugby World Cup appearance in 1991. He was among the first of the New Zealand-based players to represent Samoa. He was nicknamed Fats.

Peter Fatialofa

MNZM
Born
Peter Momoe Fatialofa

(1959-04-26)26 April 1959
Auckland, New Zealand
Died6 November 2013(2013-11-06) (aged 54)
Apia, Samoa
OccupationPiano and furniture mover
RelativesDJ Forbes (nephew)
Rugby career
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight115 kg (254 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980
1981–96
1994–95		 Grafton
Ponsonby RFC
Manurewa		 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1984–1992
1994–1996		 Auckland
Counties Manukau[1]		 72
18		 24
20
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–96 Samoa 34 (15)
Teams coached
Years Team
1999
2002
2012–2013		 Samoa (assistant coach)
King Country
East Tamaki RFC

Early life

Fatialofa's father is from Lepa Aleipata, Samoa and his mother from Samoa too, but all his life was raised from his mother's side. Fatialofa was born in Auckland, but returned to Samoa when he was still at primary school.[3]

Career

Fatialofa began his senior rugby career in Auckland playing for the Grafton Club as a 19-year-old[3] in the Auckland Senior B competition. He transferred to the Ponsonby club in 1981, winning the Gallaher Shield eight times with that team between 1981 and 1995.[4] He played 72 representative games for Auckland and was part of their Ranfurly Shield reign from 1985 to 1993.

Fatialofa debuted for Samoa against Ireland in a test match on 29 October in their 1988 tour of Wales and Ireland. He first captained Samoa in 1989 and led them at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. They lost to Scotland in the quarter-finals 28–6.

Fatialofa last played for Samoa against Fiji in Suva on 20 July 1996. Fats: Peter Fatialofa and the Manu Samoa Story an autobiography was published and released the same year. He subsequently worked as a director for his family-owned piano and furniture moving business.[5]

Fatialofa died of a heart attack in Apia on 6 November 2013.[6][7]

Honours

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Fatialofa was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.[8]

In 2019, Fatialofa was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, alongside Richie McCaw, Shiggy Konno, Os du Randt, Sir Graham Henry, and Diego Ormaechea.[9]

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References
  1. Peter Momoe Fatialofa at New Zealand Rugby History
  2. "Peter Fatialofa". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  3. Gifford, Phil (10 November 1996). "Fats finds focus for festive final fling". Sunday Star Times. p. 5.
  4. Logan, Innes (25 August 1996). "Rebel who found a cause". Sunday News. p. 41.
  5. "Fats Enterprises". Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  6. Samoan rugby great Peter Fatialofa dies. 3 News NZ. 6 November 2013.
  7. TVNZ: Legend Peter Fatialofa dies aged 54
  8. "Queen's Birthday honours list 1996". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 1996. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. New rugbiers in the Hall of Fame
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