"It sits at the top of former All Black Salesi Tu'ipulotu 'Charles' Piutau's book collection in his Belfast apartment, next to 'An Intensive Course in Tongan' and a collection of other books linked to the church."

He says '$EED or GR€€D?' teaches you not to let money and greed overtake who you are.

Piutau was born in New Zealand after his parents migrated from Tonga. "They left their friends and family in Tonga to give us a chance to chase our dream," he said.

He has been playing for the Irish club Ulster, but he is on the move to Bristol on a two-year deal. He will be paid $1.8 million per season. That will make him the most highly paid player in world rugby.

"Religious books are my go-to," Puitau says. "'$EED or GR€€D' is written by the same guy who wrote 'From the Pit to the Palace' which is about Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers."

At 25, he has given up trying to restart his career as an All Black in order to help feed his family.

Piutau said it was easy for him to put his family ahead of chasing further All Black honours.

"Every Pacific Island kid is on (sic) the same boat," he says. "Some would rather stay back, play X number of Tests and become a great All Black. For me, I came to the conclusion that wasn't me."

"My family is going to be with me forever, and they're the people closest to me. Rugby's not forever, and I want to be able to look after my parents."

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff
• Image: Coventry Telegraph

And it was not just a matter of praying for a victory.

That strategy was no doubt not ignored; on this occasion seems to have been remarkably unsuccessful.

But it was their shared Christian faith that helped build their evident esprit de corps.

It was like a glue that helped hold these teams together.

"At the end of the day we're humble people. We always try to circle up with our opponents at the end of a match to pray."

"When we are in the circle we obviously thank the opposition but we also thank the big guy upstairs for the occasion." said Anthony Perensie who plays for Samoa.

He said that the Christian faith shared by most of the players is part of what binds them together as a team.

"The entire squad stops to pray before and after matches... "[Faith] helps keep us together. It helps bond us as a team." says Fiji's captain Akapusi Qera.

Nili Latu from Tonga told the Nuku'alofa Times, "Everything revolves around our faith."

Martin Saunders, contributing editor to Christian Today, reporting this phenomenon appeared to be surprised that Christian faith continues to be so closely connected to the every day life of many Pasifika people.

Even believing Christians from the secularised world are not sure quite what to make of God being interested in Rugby.

Seeing a 100Kg+ giants singing hymns is a bit of a novelty.

Christian Today is an independent media company with an evangelical christian orientation

Source

• www.christiantoday.com
• nukualofatimes.tbu.to
• Image: radionz.co.nz