Apisai Toga (24 November 1942 or 6 November 1945 – 30 January 1973) was a Fijian rugby union and professional rugby league player. After representing the Fijian national rugby union team in 1963, he switched to rugby league and played for the Rochdale Hornets and the St. George Dragons. He played as a lock in rugby union, and or in rugby league.
Playing career
Toga was from the Saunaka village near
Nadi. Originally a rugby union player, he was part of the Fiji team that won the rugby tournament at the 1963 South Pacific Games, playing three matches and scoring three tries. His brother
Sela Toga later also represented and captained Fiji, making his debut the following year.
Rochdale Hornets
He switched to rugby league in 1964, signing for English club
Rochdale Hornets.
[ He made his debut for the club on 15 February in a home match against Workington Town.]
St George Dragons
Not liking the weather in northern England,[ Toga signed for Australian club St George Dragons in 1968, becoming the first Fijian to play in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.][ He was joined at the club by his brother Inisai Toga the following year.][ A crowd favorite at Kogarah Oval, he made an immediate impact at the Dragons, and played for five seasons at the club between 1968 and 1972, making 65 appearances and scoring nine tries.]
Death
Toga went home to Fiji during the 1972–73 off season, and cut his foot on coral and barbed wire which resulted in him dying of tetanus poisoning on 30 January 1973 after collapsing during a pre-season training run at Carss Park, New South Wales. He had only arrived back in Australia four days before his death. It was later reported that Toga was in convulsions for hours before later dying at St. George Hospital.
Notes and references
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