Nigel Vagana

Auckland winger/centre, the cousin of Test forward Joe Vagana, played a season with Warrington in 1997 before returning to the Warriors. Vagana made his Test debut the following year and has proved to be a consistent try scoring at club and international level. In 1999 Vagana (along with captain Matthew Ridge) was suspended for three matches for ‘man-handling’ the referee in a match against Balmain. A member of NZ’s World Cup squad in 2000, Vagana has played fullback, centre, winger and five-eighth at Test level. He joined the Bulldogs in 2001 following the change of ownership of the Auckland club but the move paid dividends, winning the ‘Dally M’ centre-of-the-year award. In early 2002, in a match against Souths, Vagana scored a club record-equalling 5 tries in a match but following the club’s salary cap problems he signed with Cronulla for 2004. Vagana was a regular in the NZ team in ensuing years, often playing five-eighth, and was instrumental in the Kiwis success in the 2005 Tri Nations final. After signing with Souths for 2007 Vagana retired from international football after the Kiwis 16-12 loss to Australia in extra-time in the final of the 2006 Tri-Nations competition.