HENRY TUILAGI

Henry is a former Samoan professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He appeared ten times for his national team Samoa and played club rugby in Italy, France and England.

He was known for his enormous strength, and is one of the strongest athletes in sporting history whose career was not dedicated to powerlifting as an end in itself. At his peak, he bench pressed 250 kg (551 lb) raw for several reps. 

In 2002, Henry spent a year playing in the Italian Super 10 competition for Parma, where his younger brother Alesana had joined him. He appeared for Parma against London Wasps at High Wycombe in the first round of the European Challenge Cup, and then at Caerphilly in the quarter final of the same competition in January 2003. The No.8 was first included in the Samoa squad for the 2000 Pacific Rim Championship, but had to wait another two years for his test debut against Fiji in Apia, Samoa in June 2002. Both Fereti and Alesana joined him in the international team later in the month, when all three brothers played together in the World Cup qualifier against Fiji at Nadi.

Henry made 24 first team appearances during his first season with the Leicester Tigers. He scored a try on his debut match for the Tigers against London Irish. He soon established himself firmly in the Tigers line-up, but his next season was cut short with a broken leg in the final home game against the London Wasps.

Henry made a real impact in the back row after joining his elder brother Fereti when at Leicester. He made 24 first team appearances in his first season, scoring a try on his debut in the opening game against London Irish, and subsequently consolidated his position both in the team and as a favorite of the fans. His 2004/05 season was cut short, however, when he suffered a broken leg in the final home Premiership match against London Wasps in April.

In 2007 he moved to France to play for Perpignan in the Top 14.

CAREER IN NUMBERS

2002-2003 Overmach Rugby Parma F.C.
2003-2007 Leicester Tigers
2007-2015 USA Perpignan

NATIONAL TEAMS
2002-2009 Samoa