TANA UMAGA bades farewell

After playing 79 matches for the All Blacks, including 74 Tests (21 of those as Captain) Tana Umaga confirmed his retirement from international rugby at a press conference on January 10, 2006. His main reason for retiring was to spend more time with his family. Umaga will continue to play rugby for the Hurricanes in the Super 14 and the Lions in the NPC.

Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM,(born May 27, 1973) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He was capped 74 times for his country.Born in Lower Hutt to Samoan immigrant parents, Tana Umaga was originally a rugby league player (and an Under 19's New Zealand representative in that sport for two years). In 1992 aged 18 he had trials with NRL side Newcastle Knights but returned to New Zealand because of homesickness. He switched to union after being persuaded by his elder brother Mike, a Samoan rugby union international. The brothers met in one test match, in 1999—the All Blacks won 71-13, with Tana scoring two tries.

Jonathan Falefasa Umaga, better known to us all as Tana is Graham Henry’s choice as 2004 All Blacks captain.He is the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions skipper and an inspirational leader. He became the 20th player to have played 50 Tests for New Zealand in 2003.

Umaga is also respected for his sportsmanship. In a test match against Wales on June 21, 2003, Welsh captain Colin Charvis was knocked out by a tackle from All Blacks forward Jerry Collins, and Umaga stopped playing (despite his team being in an attacking position) to check that Charvis had not swallowed his mouthguard, and place him in the recovery position. For this act, the International Committee for Fair Play awarded Umaga the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy, an award for outstanding sportsmanship (named for Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games). The Welsh Rugby Union also presented him with a figurine to honour this display of sportsmanship.

"When I got knocked out Tana was brilliant - I was unconscious but he rolled me over and ensured I didn't swallow my gum-shield," Charvis said. Umaga missed virtually the entire 2003 Rugby Union World Cup, after being injured in a freak collision with teammate Carlos Spencer in the opening match against Italy. He suffered a damaged posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and was forced to leave the field, not returning for the remainder of the tournament, which saw the All Blacks eliminated in the semi-finals by the Wallabies.

He leaves the international game with just about a full CV. He's lifted the Bledisloe Cup, beaten the Springboks and Lions, thrashed the best that the UK could throw at him. He's even won an NPC. A Super 14 title with the Hurricanes would be fitting as he enters his twilight years. A World Cup would be even more appropriate. Sadly that won't happen now. But in many ways, Umaga has already won his World Cup. His part in New Zealand winning the hosting rights to the 2011 tournament was another mark of the regard world rugby holds Umaga in.

Best rememberred for introducing the new Haka, Kapa O Pango in a test match against South Africa in 2005. So long Tana, thanks for the memories.