Nigel Vagana

Nigel Faletoese Vagana (born 7 February 1975), also known by the nicknames of "Pablo", and "Chiko", is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, as a and .

A New Zealand and Samoa international representative, Vagana retired as the Kiwis' all-time top try-scorer with 19. He represented New Zealand between 1998 and 2006, including at the 2000 World Cup, and captained Samoa at the 2008 World Cup.

Vagana played club football in New Zealand for the Warriors, in England for Warrington, and in Australia for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. That season he was the League's top try-scorer. At the 2002 Dally M Awards Vagana was named the NRL's centre of the year. He was selected to go on the 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France, playing at centre. Clinton Toopi broke his hand in a scuffle with Vagana during a team drinking session after the second test. Team management initially tried to cover up the incident, claiming the injury occurred during the match, before media found out and had a field day. Vagana played in all five test matches of the tour.

During the 2002 NRL season the ladder-leading Canterbury were stripped of 37 competition points and given then-record breaking fines for salary cap breaches, meaning they finished the season with the wooden spoon.

Vagana moved to another Sydney club, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 2004 NRL season. He was selected to play for New Zealand at fullback in the 2004 Anzac Test. Vagana finished the 2004 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season at the club's top try-scorer. In the post-season 2004 Tri-Nations tournament Vagana was selected to play in the centres for New Zealand in all four of their matches.

Vagana was selected play for New Zealand at centre in the 2005 Anzac Test. At the end of the season he was selected to go to Britain with the Kiwis for the 2005 Tri-Nations tournament, playing at in all matches, including the final in which they defeated Australia.

Vagana was selected to play for New Zealand at in the 2006 Anzac Test. He was selected to represent New Zealand in the 2006 Tri-Nations tournament, playing at in the final which was lost to Australia. Vagana announced his retirement from international rugby league following the 2006 Tri Nations series.

Vagana signed a two-year contract with NRL club South Sydney, starting in 2007, expiring at the end of 2008. At the end of the 2007 NRL season the 2007 All Golds tour took place, celebrating the centenary of the 1907–08 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain, which saw the first games of rugby league ever played in the Southern hemisphere. Vagana came out of international retirement to play for an invitational "All Golds" side against Great Britain. The 2008 season was Vagana's last in the NRL. Although already retired, Vagana was named in the Samoa squad for the post-season 2008 World Cup, and captained the side in the tournament, scoring tries in both their matches.

Honours 2001 - Dally M Centre of the Year 2002 - Dally M Centre of the Year

Post playing Following his retirement from the playing field, Vagana became a National Rugby League education and welfare officer.