Lolani Koko

Lolani Koko (2 October 1963 – 18 June 2024) was a Samoan rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative rugby union for Samoa and representative rugby league for Western Samoa, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

Lolani Koko

Personal information
Born	(1963-10-02)2 October 1963
Died	18 June 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 60)
Playing information
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Centre
Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P Moata'a[1] Wellington 1983–94 Samoa 23 2 0 0 8
Rugby league
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995 Sydney City Roosters 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995 Western Samoa 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Rugby union career

Koko played for the Samoa national rugby union team, making his debut in 1983. He moved to New Zealand in the early 1990s, playing for Wellington. He was invited to trial for the All Blacks but decided to stick with his native Samoa.^[4] Koko scored 11 tries for Wellington in the 1992 NPC season.^[5] He was named the Man of Honour at the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens.^[6]

Koko also spent time with the Boroondara Rugby Club in Australia.^[7]

Rugby league career

Koko switched to rugby league at the start of the 1995 season. Koko joined the Sydney City Roosters in the Australian Rugby League competition and led the Western Samoa team at the 1995 World Sevens. Koko also had a stint with the Narrandera Lizards in Group 20 Rugby League^{[failed verification]}.^[6]

He was part of the Western Samoa squad at the 1995 World Cup.

Personal life

Koko's brother Kofe Koko also represented Samoa in rugby union and his nephew Ali Koko also represented both Samoa and Wellington in rugby union.^[8] Koko died on 18 June 2024.^[9][10]