Inga honoured to serve King

Former All Black, now funeral director, Inga "the winger" Tuigamala will treasure the past few days for the rest of his life.

The 19-test All Blacks veteran has been helping with the funeral arrangements for King Taufa'ahu Tupou IV of Tonga, who died in Auckland late on Sunday night.

The King lay in state at his residence in the Auckland suburb of Epsom yesterday before being flown back to Tonga on an Air Force Hercules today.

Tuigamala and his wife Daphne have been running their funeral business in South Auckland for four months. He said it had been a great privilege to serve the King and look after his body on the final stage of his trip home to Tonga.

"I am deeply honoured and very thankful for the opportunity."

Tuigamala said the King was renowned for many things but it was his size that drew most attention.

"His Majesty was just incredible, an absolutely incredible physique of a man," said Tuigamala, of Tongan and Samoan blood.

The custom-made casket carrying the King was much larger than a standard casket.

Tuigamala had met the King several times in the past few years.

One of his fondest memories was from 1991 when he played in a King's invitation rugby team in Tonga against an Auckland invitation team coached by Graham Henry, now the All Blacks coach. The game at Nuku'alofa was to celebrate the King's birthday. His team won.

The King's team included All Blacks legend Michael Jones and Tongan-born World Cup-winning Wallaby Willie Ofahengaue.

"That was one memorable evening," said Tuigamala.

- NZPA