Tainafi had encountered a few rugby injuries in his life, enough to spark an interest in physiotherapy. Then, playing a regular Sunday rugby game, a tackle went wrong, breaking his neck. It was 2007 and he was 21, a first-year student at the University of Otago.  When Nafi met other guys in chairs, they gave him hope and now he works to bring that same hope to others as a physio. 

After rehabilitation and with a heightened appreciation for the work, Nafi was keen to get back into study. He was the first student at Auckland University of Technology to complete a physiotherapy degree with his type of injury. It’s physical work, but he made it happen, going on to specialise in neuro-rehabilitation and working with patients recovering from spinal and brain injuries. It’s satisfying work knowing he’s making a difference and helping to show people they can still live a full life. Through wheelchair rugby, Nafi keeps alight his love for sport and belonging to a team. He’s been a longstanding member of the Wheel Blacks, making it to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. In 2020, Nafi and his wife Amanda welcomed his first child, and in 2023 his second - a firecracker who keeps the family busy.  

At the time of Nafi’s injury, the Rugby Foundation’s help exceeded his expectations, making sure he and his family had everything they needed. He’s been grateful to have the foundation at his back ever since, providing empathetic support, practical help throughout his studies and specialist wheelchairs allowing him to pursue rugby.