Name Apisai Toga | ||
Died January 27, 1973, Kogarah, Sydney, Australia | ||
Apisai Toga (1945-1973) was a Fijian rugby league player that played for the St George Dragons and the Rochdale Hornets during the 1960s, and mid-1970s.
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English County Cup Final appearances
Apisai Toga played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Rochdale Hornets' 5-16 defeat by Warrington in the 1965 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Friday 29 October 1965.
St. George career
Signed by Frank Facer in late 1967, Toga was a giant front or second row forward that came from a traditional Fijian rugby union background to star for the St George Dragons during his brief career. A crowd favourite at Kogarah Oval, he made an immediate impact at the Dragons, and played five seasons at the club between 1968-1972. Toga played in many semi finals with St George, but never played in any grand finals. His brother Inisai Toga, also played with St George.
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 27 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. The news of Toga's death greatly saddened the Rugby League community, especially in Sydney. His body was returned to his homeland for burial on the following weekend, accompanied by Dragons captain Graeme Langlands.