Newcastle Director rushed to hospital after 'struggling' with his breathing - Page 5 of 5 - Ruck

Newcastle Director rushed to hospital after ‘struggling’ with his breathing

1. Va’aiga Tuigamala

He played for London Wasps, winning the English Premiership, and later joined Newcastle Falcons in a world record £1m deal. Upon signing for the Falcons, team-mate Doddie Weir called Tuigamala “simply the best rugby player in the world”

A centre or wing, he was known as a powerful runner, physically much larger than most typical wings in rugby union. He scored a hat-trick on his third appearance for Newcastle against Moseley at Kingston Park and was an important part of the 1998 Championship-winning side, making 16 appearances that season.

Tuigamala then delayed an arm operation to put in a Man of the Match performance in the 2001 Powergen Cup Final.

Internationally, he first played for New Zealand in rugby union, winning 19 caps, and later for Samoa in both rugby league (two caps) and rugby union (23 caps). He played in one rugby league and two rugby union World Cups.