Apollo Perelini (born 16 July 1969 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former Samoan dual code rugby international player.

Apollo Perelini played for St Helens in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League. He also played for Sale Sharks in the Zurich Championship and North Harbour in New Zealand.

He was named 'Apollo 11' because he was born on the day that the Apollo space project was launched.

In the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup he played as an open side flanker, in the Samoans' four games (against Scotland, Wales, Argentina and Australia). During the World Cup he gained the nickname of "Terminator" for his hard tackling. In 1994 he received an approach from St Helens to play rugby league in England. At first he rejected it, but finally agreed. In 1995 he played for rugby league for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup, making him the first Samoan to play in World Cups in both codes.

Perelini played both prop and second row in league, but just as a back row player in union.

At age 33, after finishing his rugby league playing career, he returned to Rugby Union's Sale Sharks as a player. After retiring from playing he joined the Sale's Coaching staff. In 2004 he returned to St Helens as the team's strength and conditioning coach, a position he still holds.^[1]

He now lives in Dubai and is head of sport at Repton School Dubai a private school and Wayne McDonald is keen to get him involved with rugby league in the United Arab Emirates^[2].

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Saints Heritage Society profile