Name:	Steven So'oialo
Position:	Scrum-half
Date of Birth:	11 May 1977
Place of Birth:	Moto'otua, Samoa
Family Village(s):	Vailima & Saipipi
School:	Mana College, Wellington
Height:	5' 10"(1.77 M)
Weight:	189 lbs (85.73kg)
Previous Clubs:	Orrell, Wigan, Western Suburbs
Honours:	Manu Samoa, Pacific Islanders, Manu Samoa 7s
International Caps:	32
Test Points:	25 (5T)
International Debut:	1998 v Tonga
Signed for:	2 years, 2004/5, 2005/6

So'oialo was born in Samoa but was brought up in Wellington, New Zealand but, unlike his brother Rodney, he decided to play for his country of birth rather than for the All Blacks.

He has been a regular in the Samoan team since his debut against Tonga in 1998. He played in the Samoan 7s team in the RWC in 2001 and played in the fifteen man version in 1999 and 2003 World Cups. He received the man of the match award for his performance against Georgia and was a key part of the team that gave England an almighty shock.

He came to play in England in 2002, playing first for the Wigan side that entered a team into the Middlesex 7s and then signing for Orrell where he partnered ex-Harlequin Dave Slemen.

He is renowned for his fitness and despite his short stature he has a reputation for playing aggressively, he has a dependable pass and has good organisational skills, he has captained his national team at 7s and brings a lot of experience from his 32 caps.

No doubt he will enjoy going head to head this season with the Fijian Mosese Raulini who is at Saracens and with whom he has been competing for the Pacific Islanders number 9 shirt.

He will join the squad at the end of July and has signed for two years which will keep him at The Stoop until June 2006

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