By Julian Linden
Wellington - Former All Black and Samoan rugby international Ofisa Tonu'u made the most important interception of his life on Tuesday when his wife went into labour.
Tonu'u had to step in when his wife Sheralynn was sent home from hospital after her contractions stopped.
When the contractions suddenly returned the couple did not have time to make it back and Tonu'u, who played five Test matches each for Samoa and New Zealand in the 1990s, delivered a healthy daughter, the New Zealand Press Association reported.
Tonu'u took instructions over the telephone and had to contend with another emergency when the baby's cord tightened around her neck, but he was able to force it over her head and free her.
"I didn't drop the ball this time," the former scrumhalf joked.
The couple, who have four other children, named the girl Francesca Eti Tonu'u. - Reuters