New Zealander · Salelesi, Samoa · Born 31 July 1980Samoan-born New Zealand fullback who won 100 caps and the 2011 Rugby World Cup, regarded as one of the finest No.15s in the game's history.
Born Junior Malili Muliaina in Salelesi, Samoa, on 31 July 1980, Mils Muliaina moved to Invercargill, New Zealand, with his family at age three. He impressed through New Zealand's age-grade system, representing the Secondary Schools, Under-19 and Under-21 sides, and won gold with the New Zealand Sevens team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Muliaina made his All Blacks debut in 2003 as a replacement against England, and quickly established himself as New Zealand's first-choice fullback, finishing as joint top try-scorer at the 2003 Rugby World Cup with seven tries. He started every one of New Zealand's Tests in 2004 and featured in all three victories over the British & Irish Lions in 2005, a year that also brought a Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland. Renowned for his composure, positional awareness and counter-attacking spark, Muliaina became one of the most trusted players in the All Blacks system across a career that brought six Tri-Nations titles and three Grand Slams. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he earned his 100th Test cap in the quarter-final against Argentina before a shoulder injury forced him out of the tournament; he nonetheless returned to collect a World Cup winner's medal after New Zealand's final victory. Muliaina went on to play club rugby in Ireland, Italy and the United States before retiring in 2016. He was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Winning 100 caps and the 2011 Rugby World Cup as one of the finest fullbacks in the game
How They Played
Composed, attacking fullback with excellent positional sense
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fullbacks in rugby history
New Zealander Athletes