Brian Lima

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Brian Lima

| honorific_suffix = OM

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Brian Pala Lima

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|1|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Apia, Samoa

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 1.86 m

| weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| ru_position = Wing, Centre

| amatyears1 = 1992–1996

| amatteam1 = Ponsonby

| ru_amupdate =

| repteam1 = {{nrut|Samoa}}

| repteam2 = Pacific Islanders

| repyears1 = 1990–07

| repyears2 = 2004

| reppoints1 = 140

| reppoints2 = 0

| repcaps1 = 64

| repcaps2 = 2

| ru_ntupdate =

| years1 = 1990-1992

| years2 = 1999–01

| years3 = 2001–02

| years4 = 2003–04

| years5 = 2005

| years6 = 2005–07

| clubs1 = Marist St. Joseph's

| clubs2 = Stade Français

| clubs3 = Swansea

| clubs4 = Secom Rugguts

| clubs5 = Munster

| clubs6 = Bristol

| points1 =

| points2 =

| points3 = 5

| points4 = 0

| points5 = 0

| points6 = 25

| apps1 =

| apps2 =

| apps3 = 12

| apps4 = 7

| apps5 = 0

| apps6 = 23

| ru_clubupdate =

| superyears1 = 1996

| superyears2 = 1997–98

| superyears3 = 1999

| super1 = Highlanders

| super2 = Blues

| super3 = Highlanders

| superapps1 = 11

| superapps2 = 12

| superapps3 = 13

| superpoints1 = 30

| superpoints2 = 35

| superpoints3 = 35

| province1 = Auckland[https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/brian-pala-lima Brian Pala Lima at New Zealand Rugby History]

| provinceyears1 = 1992–1999

| provinceapps1 = 30

| provincepoints1 = 105

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repsevensyears1 = 1993–2005

| repsevensteam1 = Samoa

| repsevenscomp1 =

| ru_sevensupdate =

| coachteams1 =

| coachyears1 =

| ru_coachupdate =

| other =

| occupation =

| family =

| spouse = Sina Lima

| children =

| relatives =

| school = St Joseph's College, Samoa.

| university =

}}

Brian Pala Lima OM (born 25 January 1972) is a Samoan former rugby union player who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame|title=RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=2011-10-26|access-date=2011-10-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027230745/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame|archive-date=27 October 2011}}

He earned the nickname of "The Chiropractor" for his shuddering hits both on and off the pitch that supposedly rearranged the bones of the victim.{{cite web |url=https://www.world.rugby/halloffame/inductees/7415 |title=Brian Lima |publisher=World Rugby Hall of Fame |access-date=14 January 2021}}

National team

Lima was born in Apia, Samoa. He debuted for the Samoa national rugby union team in 1990. He featured in Samoa's famous World Cup win over Wales in 1991, and he was the youngest player at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/international/the-glory-of-95-brian-lima-is-a-true-legend-of-the-game-48507394 |title=The Glory of '95: Brian Lima is a true legend of the game |publisher=IOL |author=Ashfak Mohamed |date=26 May 2020 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

One of Lima's most illuminating moments came in Samoa's match against South Africa in a group match at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. As Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard leapt up in the air to catch a hospital pass, Lima "dive-tackled" him, sending Hougaard crashing to the ground.{{cite web |url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/the-complimentary-breakfast-with-rian-van-heerden/big-blow-ended-it-hougaard/ |author=Bronwyn Hardick |title=The knock that Hougaard still feels today |publisher=jacarandaFM |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

Lima was the first player to appear in five World Cups, his fifth being the 2007 World Cup in France, in which he came on against South Africa in Samoa's first game after 60 minutes. Lima announced that he would retire after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/chiropractor-of-samoan-rugby-to-retire/AKFW6AK4Y76OE57TT5AKAE7TFA/ |title='Chiropractor' of Samoan rugby to retire |author=Cherelle Jackson |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=22 June 2007 |access-date=14 January 2021}} Michael Jones, the Samoa coach (at that time), announced Lima as the captain for the first game of that year's Pacific Nations Cup. Brian Lima was selected to lead Samoa against Fiji. This game was one of Lima's last games on Samoan soil.

Lima also played for the Samoa national rugby sevens team. He scored 17 tries in various Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, ranking him third all-time in career World Cup Sevens tries.{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2009/03/07/serevi-vunibaka-still-stand-tall/ |title=Serevi, Vunibaka still stand tall |author=Maciu Malo |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=7 March 2009 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

Professional

Lima signed for Munster after an impressive game for the southern hemisphere vs the northern hemisphere in a fundraising game for the 2004 tsunami.{{cite web |url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2005/03/11/munsters-latest-addition-brian-lima/ |title=Munster's Latest Addition – Brian Lima |publisher=Munster Rugby |date=11 March 2005 |access-date=14 January 2021}} However Lima was injured shortly after landing in Ireland and never got to pull on the Munster jersey.{{cite web |url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2005/05/03/brian-lima-returns-home/ |title=Brian Lima Returns Home |publisher=Munster Rugby |date=3 May 2005 |access-date=14 January 2021}} He has also played for the Blues, Auckland, the Highlanders, and Secom in Japan. He signed a two-year deal with Bristol starting in the 2005–06 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2005/07/12/brian-lima-and-david-lemi-join-bristol/ |title=Brian Lima and David Lemi Join Bristol |publisher=EPCR |date=12 July 2005 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

In December 2013 Lima was charged with causing actual bodily harm and being armed with a dangerous weapon after publicly assaulting and injuring his ex-wife.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/rugby-hero-bashed-me-says-ex-wife/F5HT2TJLLIJZRSIJ6WLQ53BUJU/ |title=Rugby hero bashed me, says ex-wife |author=Morgan Tait |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=14 January 2021}} He subsequently resigned as coach of the Samoan national team.{{cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/Sport/Lima-dumps-Samoa-rugby-20140107 |title=Samoa's Lima quits in shame |publisher=Sport24 |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2021}} In June 2014 he was convicted on five charges and sentenced to two years supervision.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/rugby-star-lima-avoids-jail-for-assaulting-ex-wife-6008334 |title=Rugby star Lima avoids jail for assaulting ex-wife |publisher=1News |author=Matt Manukia |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

In August 2020 he was appointed head coach of the Samoa national rugby sevens team.{{cite web |url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2020/08/11/muliagatele-brian-lima-named-manu-samoa-sevens-head-coach/ |title=Muliagatele Brian Lima Named Manu Samoa Sevens Head Coach |publisher=DJ Coil Rugby |date=11 August 2020 |access-date=14 January 2021}}

Honours and awards

Lima was appointed to the Order of Merit of Samoa in the 2014 Samoa Honours and Awards.{{cite news |title=Honours conferred |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=22 December 2014}} In 2024, he was an inaugural inductee into the Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame.{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/513208/pasifika-hall-of-fame-induction-held-in-auckland |title=Pasifika Hall of Fame induction held in Auckland |date=2 April 2024 |first=Iliesa |last=Tora |work=RNZ News |access-date=11 April 2024}}

References

External links

{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=45/player=7415/index.html|title=Brian Lima|publisher=rugbyworldcup.com|access-date=21 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013033050/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team%3D45/player%3D7415/index.html|archive-date=13 October 2007|url-status=dead}}
{{World Rugby Sevens Series profile|mens/7415}}
{{World Rugby Hall of Fame|706484}}

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Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Samoan rugby union players

Category:Rugby union wings

Category:Rugby union centres

Category:Stade Français Paris players

Category:Bristol Bears players