Afato So'oalo

Afato So'oalo (born 5 January 1974, in Apia) is a former Samoan rugby union player. He played for the Manu Samoa team and also played for the Crusaders and for Aviron Bayonnais in France. He played as a winger.

Career A devastating runner, So'oalo debuted for Samoa during a match against Ireland, at Lansdowne Road, on 12 November 1996, where he scored one of the most memorable tries in recent history when completing a 70-yard move with his first touch. He was part of the 1999 Rugby World Cup roster, playing two matches, where he scored a try against Japan. His last international cap was also against Ireland, at Lansdowne Road, on 11 November 2001.

He was a regular member of the Crusaders from 1997 to 2001 and played on the right wing. So’oalo excelled in the No.14 jersey, and in a memorable moment in the 1999 Super Rugby final scored a match winning try against the Highlanders, by out sprinting Jeff Wilson to score in the corner, and win the game for the Crusaders.