All Black and Samoa rugby legend Va'aiga Tuigamala - 'Inga the Winger' - dies aged 52

One of New Zealand rugby's modern legends, Va'aiga Tuigamala - known to a generation of fans as 'Inga the Winger' - has died, aged 52.

The blockbusting, Samoa-born Tuigamala's international rugby career spanned 19 tests for the All Blacks between 1991 and 1993 and, later, 23 tests for Manu Samoa from 1996. In between times he switched to rugby league and played more than 100 matches for Wigan in the United Kingdom.

The NZ Herald reports that tributes are pouring in from across the sporting world for Tuigamala.

Wigan executive director Kris Radlinski says every now and then a player comes along who touches the heart and soul of every single fan, player, coach and administrator. He says Inga was one of them and Inga was one of the most exciting rugby players to play either code.

Tuigamala's death comes just weeks after his younger sister, Helen Verry, died following an accident at a West Auckland church.

He posted on Facebook at the time: "I suppose some of you have already heard the sad news of the passing of my baby sister Helen Verry. The youngest of 15 of us. Helen, we miss you so dearly and words would never be enough to fill the hole you have left."

Tuigamala's cause of death has not yet been confirmed - he was about to launch a new video series in which he talks openly about his health struggles, including being diagnosed last year with type 2 diabetes.

Tuigamala said in a preview video of the series, Project ODICE (obesity diabetes intervention champion evangelist) that the reality was, he was facing an early graveyard, and when he says early grave, his father died at the age of 48 from a stroke. Tuigamala said his father wasn't obese, but he had a stroke and died and left 15 children to his mum to look after.

He said he just did not want to be another statistic.

Tuigamala said the reality is unfortunately he has been diagnosed with type two diabetes recently. He said he was obese, had high blood pressure, had a stroke about nine years ago, and he had really - in rugby terms - just dropped the ball.

Source : NZ Herald