june/july 2015 // NZ RUGBY WORLD //

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out,” former Samoan international

and PIPA board member Seilala

Mapusua explained.

“Moving from a small village to

the bright lights of London, Tokyo

or Paris can take a toll on these

boys and the workshops were

designed to aid these players with

demands.”

Whatuira, a former undercover

policeman, security consultant and

piracy-preventer, made a career out

of putting himself in high-pressure

environments and minimising the

risk to himself and others.

He first introduced the PUT

concept to young rugby players

at an NZRPA players personal

it was really impressive how he got

the guys to interact and respond.”

Mapusua and fellow PIPA board

member Hale T-Pole both attended

the

workshops

and the

Samoan

star hoped

it was an

important

step for

demands,” Mapusua said.

“The less we hear of Pacific Island

players in the sports news for the

wrong reasons, the stronger Pacific

Island rugby can become and it will

open up even more doors for future

stars from our islands. That can only

be a positive thing for Pacific rugby.”

*During the Pacific Challenge and soon

after attending the PUT workshop, Fijian

prop Iosefo Bele Tabalala died in his

sleep in a Suva hotel. The 32-year-old,

who was based in Brisbane playing for

the Brothers Club, had a previous history

“Players go from 0-100 really

quick in all facets of life and may

not necessarily have the tools to

overcome the new pressures and

demands.”

SEILALA MAPUSUA

PNC EDUCATION SAMOA