To’o Vaega
Encyclopedia
To'o Vaega is a retired professional rugby union
footballer, best known for his long career with the Samoan
national team.
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, is currently playing for Southland in the ITM Cup competition.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer, best known for his long career with the Samoan
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
national team.
Career
Vaega made his debut for SamoaSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
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
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
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
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
during the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
.
Outside of his duties with the Samoan national team, Vaega enjoyed a long club career in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 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
Western Province
Western Province or West Province may refer to:*Western Province, Cameroon*Western Province, Rwanda*Western Province *Western Province *Western Province *Western Province, Sri Lanka...
, a record he shares to this day.
Vaega's son Cardiff Vaega, named for the site of Samoa's victory over Wales in 1991, is currently playing for Southland in the ITM Cup competition.