John Afoa

Afoa was a student at Auckland's Papakura High School, then St. Kentigern College, where he played first XV rugby alongside fellow All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino.

Representative Rugby

Afoa has moved through a number of international representative sides. In 1999 he made the New Zealand U16 team, the youngest national representative team. Through 2000 and 2001 he played in the more senior New Zealand Schools' side. Moving steadily through the age grades, he was a member of the NZ U19 teams of 2002 and 2003.

In both 2003 and 2004, Afoa was part of the New Zealand Under 21 Rugby World Championship team. The New Zealanders won the tournament both years. In 2003 Afoa was one of four kiwis named in the IRB's team of the tournament.

Provincial Rugby

Afoa played for Auckland between 2002 and 2011. He played for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12

Super 14

Afoa played for the Blues and made his debut in 2004 against the Brumbies. He made 101 appearances with the team between 2004 and 2011.

All Blacks

In 2005 Afoa was selected for the All Blacks Tri-nations squad. Despite this he never took the field in that competition and didn't earn his first test cap until the end-of-year tour. In November 2005 he finally became the 1062nd All Black when he started against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

In 2010, Afoa was experimented to be used at hooker. The same year against Wales, Afoa scored his first test try showing some great running for a Prop for a 30m Try.

Afoa's test career ended after the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played 36 tests, 30 as a substitute.

Gloucester Rugby

On 6 December 2013, Afoa officially joined Gloucester Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a four-year contract worth £400,000 per season. This made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premiership and the third highest-paid player in European rugby.