Inga 'the winger' opens funeral business

Inga Tuigamala

Former All Black Inga "the winger" Tuigamala has opened a funeral business in west Auckland.

While the new venture may be a contrast from his sporting career, Tuigamala, 36, says he has had to deal with death losing 10 friends in one year -- 2003.

He told Auckland suburban newspaper the Western Leader he had seen how things could be done better, and particularly wanted to meet the needs of the Polynesian community.

Tuigamala, who had just sold a cafe, traced his interest back to when he was 11 and mourning the death of his father.

"While all the emotion and commotion of losing my father was going on, I was probably more fascinated with what was going on behind the scenes," he said.

He and wife Daphne will run the day-to-day side of the business together -- based in the same house Tuigamala grew up in with 13 siblings opposite Waikumete Cemetery -- while bringing up their four children.

Tuigamala made 39 appearances for the All Blacks, 19 of them in tests, and scored 14 tries for the national team. He also played rugby for Manu Samoa and rugby league for Wigan, and now manages boxer David Tua.

- NZPA