Nigel Vagana
Encyclopedia
Nigel Vagana is a retired professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand and Samoa international representative centre
, he retired as the Kiwis' all-time top try-scorer with 19. Vagana played club football in New Zealand for the Warriors
, in England for Warrington
and in Australia for the Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland and finally South Sydney
.
Vagana is also the cousin of Bradford Bulls
prop-forward Joe Vagana
and former Silver Ferns netball player Linda Vagana
.
In April 2002, Vagana became the first Bulldogs player since 1942 to score five tries in a match. That season he was the League's top try-scorer.
He signed a two year contract with NRL club South Sydney
, starting in 2007, expiring at the end of 2008.
Vagana had represented the New Zealand national team on thirty-two separate occasions between 1998 and 2006, including playing in the 2000 World Cup
when he announced his retirement from international rugby league following the 2006 Tri Nations
series. However he was named in the Samoa squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. and captained the side in the tournament, scoring a memorable, length-of-the-field try against Tonga.
Following his retirement from the playing field, Vagana became a National Rugby League
education and welfare officer.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand and Samoa international representative centre
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
, he retired as the Kiwis' all-time top try-scorer with 19. Vagana played club football in New Zealand for the Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, in England for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
and in Australia for the Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland and finally South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
Vagana is also the cousin of Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
prop-forward Joe Vagana
Joe Vagana
Joe Vagana is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. During his career Vagana played for the Auckland Warriors and the Bradford Bulls and also represented both Samoa and New Zealand in international competition...
and former Silver Ferns netball player Linda Vagana
Linda Vagana
Linda Vagana, MNZM is an international netball coach and former representative player from New Zealand. Vagana played as a circle defender, and was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, from 1993 up until 2002, earning 61 caps...
.
In April 2002, Vagana became the first Bulldogs player since 1942 to score five tries in a match. That season he was the League's top try-scorer.
He signed a two year contract with NRL club South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, starting in 2007, expiring at the end of 2008.
Vagana had represented the New Zealand national team on thirty-two separate occasions between 1998 and 2006, including playing in the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
when he announced his retirement from international rugby league following the 2006 Tri Nations
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
series. However he was named in the Samoa squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. and captained the side in the tournament, scoring a memorable, length-of-the-field try against Tonga.
Following his retirement from the playing field, Vagana became a National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
education and welfare officer.