Born: January 23, 1965 – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Test record: 5 Tests (1991) – 0 points

Explosive forward Emosi Koloto played all five Tests of the Kiwis’ 1991 schedule after making an immediate impact in England as a rugby union convert.

Born in Tonga, Koloto represented the New Zealand Schoolboys’ rugby union team in 1983 from Palmerston North Boys’ High. The highly-rated flanker played for Manawatu (1984-86) and Wellington (1987), as well as New Zealand Universities (1985) and his native Tonga (1986).

Koloto was lured to Widnes in 1988 and would go on to play 147 games for the club in eight seasons – helping it to Championship and Premiership victories in his first two northern winters.

Turning out for Wainuiomata and Wellington in 1989 and 1991 during English off-seasons, Koloto was selected in the second-row for both Tests of a one-sided home series defeat of France. The 26-year-old subsequently started in the 24-8 boilover victory against Australia in the Melbourne series opener and the 44-0 loss in the second Test in Sydney, before coming off the bench in the 40-12 decider loss in Brisbane.

Koloto was set to join Manly in 1991 but became a victim of the short-lived player draft, with North Sydney snapping him up instead. He refused to play with the Bears and ultimately never featured in the Australian competition.

Returning to New Zealand in retirement, Koloto later coached Papatoetoe Panthers.