Born: May 14, 1962 - Auckland
Test record: 8 Tests (1990-91) - 6 tries (24 points)
Tours: 1987 tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia
Auckland utility back Sam Panapa had a brief but fruitful stint in the New Zealand Test team in 1990-91, while he was a valued part of Wigan's trophy-winning juggernaut in the first half of the 1990s.
A Ponsonby junior, Panapa played senior football for Ponsonby-Maritime and Glenora, had an off-season stint with Sheffield Eagles in 1984-85 and joined Te Atatu Roosters in 1985.
Panapa played halfback for Auckland against Australia in 1985, represented Tokelau at the 1986 Pacific Cup and scored a try at five-eighth for a New Zealand XIII against Queensland in 1987, subsequently earning a call-up for the Kiwis' tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The 25-year-old made just one appearance on tour - again at five-eighth and again scoring a try in the opening match against Northern Rivers.
Panapa was a tryscorer in Te Atatu's maiden Fox Memorial grand final win in 1988. Reinvented as a three-quarter, he played on the wing in Auckland's win and New Zealand President's XIII's loss against Australia in 1989, and scored two tries as a centre in the province's defeat of Great Britain in 1990.
The latter helped Panapa earn a Test call-up on the wing, crossing for a try on debut against the Lions and all three matches of the 2-1 series loss, then dotting down in both wins in Papua New Guinea and the one-off loss to Australia in Wellington.
Panapa retained his place on the flank for the 1991 home series against France and crossed for tries in both Tests. But he was unlucky to be dropped for debutant Jason Williams for the subsequent series against Australia and did not play for New Zealand again.
Having spent another off-season with Sheffield Eagles in 1990-91, Panapa joined all-conquering Wigan for the 1991-92 campaign and racked up 45 tries in 116 appearances over four seasons, featuring in two Premiership final victories, two Challenge Cup final triumphs and two World Club Challenge wins.
Panapa finished his career with three seasons at Salford and represented Western Samoa at the 1995 World Cup. He later coached Auckland and was New Zealand Residents assistant coach during the 2000s.