Born: 26 April, 1959 in Auckland, New Zealand | Died: 6 November, 2013
World Rugby Hall of Fame – Inductee No.146

A prouder individual never wore the Samoan jersey than the man affectionately known in rugby circles as “Fats”.

The all-action prop captained the Islanders when they achieved a breakthrough win against Wales on their Rugby World Cup debut in 1991, shocking their hosts and the rest of the world with a 16-13 victory in which he gave the final pass for Sila Vaifale’s match-winning try. Under his inspirational leadership Western Samoa, as they were then known, went on to reach the quarter-finals and they did so again in South Africa four years later when he shared the captaincy with Pat Lam.

A fun-loving character who lived life to the full, Fatialofa was a hugely influential role model for Polynesian players throughout the Islands and in his birthplace of Auckland, New Zealand. He was a cornerstone of the Auckland pack that held the Ranfurly Shield from 1985-93 and a stalwart of the Ponsonby club.

After retiring with 34 caps to his name, the gentle giant worked as a director of his family-owned piano and furniture moving business, and was coaching the Samoan women's rugby team when he died of a heart attack, aged just 54, in November 2013.