Viliami Ofahengaue
Encyclopedia
Viliami 'Ofahengaue (born May 3, 1968 in Kolofoou, Tonga
), widely known as Willie O, earned 41 caps
for the Australian rugby union side
from 1990 to 1998 and played in the World Cups of 1991 and 1995 as well as the World Cup Sevens in 1993.
Ofahengaue played for New Zealand Schoolboys in 1988 and participated in a tour to Australia
. However, on the return trip, he was refused re-entry to New Zealand
with his Tongan passport so he moved to Australia.
It was while playing for the Manly Rugby Union Club
that he was selected for the NSW and Australia teams. He scored 11 Test tries for Australia from the back of the scrum before handing over the No.8 jersey to fellow Tongan Toutai Kefu
at the end of 1998. He has the somewhat rare distinction of having beaten the All Blacks
more times than losing to them.
After finishing his playing career in Australia, Ofahengaue worked as player/coach in Japan for the next five years, visiting Fiji
in 2001 to lend assistance to Tonga’s
Pacific Rim campaign. He became head coach of the 'Ikale Tahi in January 2004. He has also coached the Japaneses and Manly Club sides.
Current Wallabies number eight Cliff Palu has mentioned Ofahengaue as someone he looked up to during his early career.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
), widely known as Willie O, earned 41 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Australian rugby union side
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
from 1990 to 1998 and played in the World Cups of 1991 and 1995 as well as the World Cup Sevens in 1993.
Ofahengaue played for New Zealand Schoolboys in 1988 and participated in a tour to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. However, on the return trip, he was refused re-entry to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with his Tongan passport so he moved to Australia.
It was while playing for the Manly Rugby Union Club
Manly RUFC
Manly Rugby Union Football Club are a rugby union club based in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. The club was formed in 1906 and competes in the New South Wales Rugby Union competitions, the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup. Manly, known as the Marlins, play their home games at Manly...
that he was selected for the NSW and Australia teams. He scored 11 Test tries for Australia from the back of the scrum before handing over the No.8 jersey to fellow Tongan Toutai Kefu
Toutai Kefu
Toutai Kefu is a rugby player who won 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian rugby union side .-Career:...
at the end of 1998. He has the somewhat rare distinction of having beaten the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
more times than losing to them.
After finishing his playing career in Australia, Ofahengaue worked as player/coach in Japan for the next five years, visiting Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in 2001 to lend assistance to Tonga’s
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
Pacific Rim campaign. He became head coach of the 'Ikale Tahi in January 2004. He has also coached the Japaneses and Manly Club sides.
Current Wallabies number eight Cliff Palu has mentioned Ofahengaue as someone he looked up to during his early career.
External links
- Willie Ofahengaue on Sporting Heroes
- Statistics - Scrum.com