Born: March 18, 1963 - Foxton
Test record: 6 Tests (1989-90, 1992) - 1 try (4 points)
Tours: 1989 tour of Britain and France
Upper Hutt Tigers stalwart Mike Kuiti played six Tests for the Kiwis in the late-1980s and early-1990s.
Kuiti made his debut for Wellington at just 18 in 1981 and represented Central Districts against Great Britain (1984) and Australia (1985). After spending the 1985-86 off-season with Rochdale Hornets, he featured in New Zealand MΔori's 1986 Pacific Cup triumph.
Part of Upper Hutt's 1986-87 premiership successes, the back-rower was a tryscorer for Wellington against Great Britain in 1988. He also represented Wellington and a New Zealand XIII against Australia in 1989, leading to his selection on Kiwis' tour of Britain and France at the end of the year.
The 26-year-old played 11 games on tour and scored six tries. He made his Test debut off the bench in the narrow series-opening win over France, then scored a try from the second-row in the 34-0 victory in the second Test.
Kuiti faced the 1990 Lions three times - for Wellington, New Zealand MΔori and a Presidents XIII (scoring a try in a one-point loss) - but was unable to break into the squad for the Test series. But he played in both subsequent Tests in Papua New Guinea as a second-rower.
The hardworking forward's last international assignment came during the 1992 home series against Great Britain, coming off the bench in both thrilling encounters as the rubber finished one-all.
Kuiti spent 10 consecutive seasons in England from 1988-97, playing for Swinton, Leeds, Rochdale, Oldham, Wakefield Trinity and Batley. He also filled in as a caretaker coach at Batley in 1996, while he returned to Wellington and coached Porirua Pumas in the Bartercard Cup and Wellington Orcas in the NZRL National Premiership.
Reflecting his status and contribution to rugby league in his home region, Kuiti was named at lock in an all-star pack in Wellington's Team of the Century in 2012.