Alamoni Liavaʻa

Epalahame Liavaʻa, better known as Alamoni Liavaʻa (born circa 1959) is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as centre.

Alamoni Liavaʻa
Birth nameEpalahame Liavaʻa
Date of birth1959 (age 61–62)
Place of birthTonga
Height1,70 m
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Notable relative(s)Sione Liavaʻa (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team --
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1979-1987 Tonga 15 ((33))

Career

Liavaʻa was first cap for Tonga was against England, in Nuku'alofa, on 1 June 1979. He was also present in the 1987 Rugby World Cup squad, where he was the vice-captain.[1] He played all the three pool stage matches and scored a conversion kick in the match against Wales. His last match for Tonga was also in that year's World Cup, against Ireland, in Brisbane.

After career and deportation

In the 1993, years after his retirement as rugby player, Liavaʻa got involved with the drug trafficking business.[2] He smuggled cocaine to New Zealand by stuffing it inside yams.[3] He also had contacts with the Hawaii-based drug boss Richard "Tiki" Taumoepeau.[4] After being caught by the New Zealand Police through wiretapping, Liavaʻa was put under surveillance and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and deported back to Tonga, where he lives a hermit-like lifestyle on the west of Tongatapu.[3]

Personal life

He is the brother of the late Sione Liava'a, former chairman of the Tonga Public Service Commission.

Notes
  1. Corrpution in Paradise: From the Rugby World Cup, to cocaine smuggling, to life as a hermit stuff.co.nz
  2. GREGORY, ANGELA (2001-03-18). "Deportation order upheld for leader of cocaine gang". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  3. Tony wall and Blair Ensor (6 November 2016). "Corruption in Paradise: From the Rugby World Cup, to cocaine smuggling, to life as a hermit". Stuff. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  4. Tony wall and Blair Ensor. "Corruption in Paradise". Stuff. Retrieved 2 December 2020.


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