Peter Fatialofa

Peter Fatialofa

Full name	Peter Momoe Fatialofa
Date of birth	(1959-04-26)26 April 1959
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death	Apia, Samoa
Height
Weight	115 kg (254 lb)
Notable relative(s)	DJ Forbes (nephew)
Occupation(s)	Piano and furniture mover
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Prop
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1980 1981–96 1984–96	Grafton Ponsonby RFC Auckland	72
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1988–96	Samoa	34	(15)

Peter Momoe Fatialofa MNZM (26 April 1959 – 6 November 2013) was a Samoan rugby player 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.

Early life

Fatialofa was born in Auckland, but returned to Samoa when he was still at primary school.

Career

Fatialofa began his senior rugby career in Auckland playing for the Grafton Club as a 19-year-old 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. 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.

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

He died 6 November 2013 in Samoa of a heart attack.