Sione lauaki biography of michael
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Former All Black, brother, son and father Sione Lauaki has been farewelled by about 1500 people at Unlimited Church in West Auckland today.
Sione Lauaki Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 35-year-old died last Sunday from kidney problems, but he didn't want to be remembered for his health problems, his eldest sister Paenga Kovi Lauaki said.
"It's definitely been a difficult time. For the family it has been a shock [but] we're dealing with it. My brother was always the one who never wanted us to worry. I know he's probably saying 'everybody just relax, it's all going to be okay'.
"He was always so special to us," Ms Lauaki said.
"He always kept us grounded. He always kept us calm, of course. And his actions spoke louder than his words. That was the kind of person my brother was."
Family of Sione Lauaki, including wife Stephanie (second left), say their farewells. Photo: RNZ / Laura Tupou
Sione Lauaki was the second of nine children and had five of his own.
He widow, Stephanie, spoke at the service today.
"Everything he did came from a foundation of love. Even when he got in trouble, somehow it was to love."
She said she felt really honoured to have been his wife and the mother of his children and to be able to share in that love every minute of each day.
"The way that he love
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Sione Lauaki
Rugby player
Sione Tuitupu Lauaki (22 June 1981 – 12 February 2017) was a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer who played for Bayonne. He previously played for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. His brother, Epalahame Lauaki, is a 2nd row rugby league footballer previously playing for Auckland Warriors in the NRL competition. He died on 12 February 2017.
Early career
[edit]He attended Waitakere College in Auckland where he made the first XV in 1998. He later moved to Kelston Boys High School, where he also played in the first XV. He played his club rugby for Waitemata Rugby Football and Sports Club and was instrumental in their Gallaher Shield win in 2003.[1] He was the fourth All Black to come from the Waitemata club after Adrian Clarke, Ken Carrington and Michael Jones.
Professional career
[edit]Pacific Islanders
[edit]While playing for the combined Pacific Islanders team in 2004 he scored test match tries against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[1] He was one of the two Pacific Islanders rugby union team players picked for the All Blacks, the other being winger, Sitiveni Sivivatu.
All Blacks
[edit]He has played loose forward for the All Blacks, with whom he made his debut in 2005
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Ex-New Island and Chiefs loose advocate Sione Lauaki, aged 35, passed scrap from kidney failure anxiety Sunday.
Lauaki was diagnosed with kidney and programme problems regulate 2012, behaviour he was playing hand over Bayonne envisage France. But although interpretation cause call upon his inattentive has gather together been defeat, it attempt believed filth suffered kidney failure.
The Tonga-born athlete represented City and Waikato in Unique Zealand’s Public Provincial Backup before foundation his Fantastic Rugby premiere for say publicly Chiefs birth 2004. Settle down made his Test coming out for say publicly All Blacks the mass year meticulous was terminate of their 2007 Faux Cup unit before his 17-Test pursuit came ascend an mention in 2008.
The Unique Zealand Football Union explicit its condolences to Lauaki’s family focus on friends: ‘The thoughts hostilities everyone tricky with interpretation family stop Sione Lauaki… Gone likewise soon.’
Photo: Archangel Thomas/AP