A popular former Welsh rugby player has made his debut as an international cricketer at the age of 49 - 27 years after picking up the first of his nine caps for the All Blacks.
Ofisa Tonu'u made a big impression at Rodney Parade during his two years with Newport.
Alongside the likes of Percy Montgomery, Shane Howarth and Simon Raiwalui he guided the Black & Ambers to the 2003 Principality Cup final where they were beaten 32-9 by Llanelli.
He joined from London Irish but left Welsh rugby in the summer of 2003.
Having also played for the Samoan rugby team in the early 1990s, Tonu'u moved back to New Zealand following his stint at Newport and has made his way up through the real estate industry in Auckland.
He also swapped the rugby boots for the cricket spikes and became a member the Auckland Society Premier Men's team.
His performance as wicket-keeper at a charity cricket match (between a team of retired All Blacks versus a team of retired New Zealand international cricket players) in Christchurch earlier this year brought him to the attention of Tim Carter.
The Samoan cricket coach was desperate for an accomplished wicket-keeper and Tonu'u made his T20 international debut this week against Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Games.
Tonu'u, who also played rugby for the Blues, Auckland and Wellington and made his debut for the All Blacks on their tour of South Africa in 1996, said he wanted to continue playing cricket for the national side "as long as I can contribute to the team".
As he holds a Samoan passport, the recent rule changes have meant he does now qualify to compete, opening the way for the realisation of this long held dream.
