Western Samoan skipper Semo Sititi played key roles in two World Cups, but played just one season for the Hurricanes in 2000 and two for the Vodafone Wellington Lions in 2000 and 2001.

New Zealand fans didn’t see the best of Sititi. He made five appearances for the Hurricanes in 2000, all off the bench and 13 for Wellington in all. Sititi was an abrasive ball playing loose forward in the mould of fellow Samoan players Filo Tiatia, Jerry Collins and current Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo – all of whom he was in competition with for game time.

Sititi had a distinguished career for Samoa, making his test debut in 1999 against Japan in Apia. Of Manu Samoa’s 30-man squad at the 1999 World Cup Sititi was the only player based in Samoa. He became Samoan captain when Pat Lam retired after the 1999 World Cup and scored a try against eventual champions England at the 2003 World Cup. He has also captained the Samoa Sevens team, including to the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Argentina.