View source for Ben Atiga

{{Short description|NZ international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name                    = Ben Atiga
| image                   =
| image_size              =
| caption                 =
| fullname                = Benjamin Alo Charles Atiga
| birth_date              = {{birth date and age|1983|05|05|df=y}}
| birth_place             = [[Auckland, New Zealand|Auckland]], New Zealand
| height                  = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight                  = {{convert|99|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school                  = [[Auckland Grammar School]]
| university              =
| relatives               = [[George Skudder]] (uncle)
| occupation              =
| spouse                  =
| position                = [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]], [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| currentclub             =
| youthyears1             =
| youthclubs1             =
| years1                  = 2002–2010
| clubs1                  = [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]]
| apps1                   = 84
| points1                 = 190
| years2                  = 2004–2008
| clubs2                  = [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]
| apps2                   = 45
| points2                 = 75
| years3                  = 2011
| clubs3                  = [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Highlanders]]
| apps3                   = 1
| points3                 = 0
| years4                  = 2011
| clubs4                  = [[Otago Rugby Football Union|Otago]]
| apps4                   = 10
| points4                 = 5
| years5                  = 2012–2014
| clubs5                  = [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
| apps5                   = 30
| points5                 = 5
| repyears1               = 2002–2004
| repteam1                = [[New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team|New Zealand U21]]
| repcaps1                = 15
| reppoints1              = 83
| repyears2               = 2005–2006
| repteam2                = [[Junior All Blacks]]
| repcaps2                = 4
| reppoints2              = 5
| repyears3               = 2003
| repteam3                = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]]
| repcaps3                = 1
| reppoints3              = 0
| clubupdate              = 28 May 2020
| repupdate               = 28 May 2020
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2007
| ru_sevensnationalteam1  = [[New Zealand national rugby sevens team|New Zealand]]
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1  = 1
| ru_sevensupdate         = 28 May 2020
}}
'''Benjamin Alo Charles Atiga''' (born 5 May 1983 in [[Auckland]]) is a [[rugby union]] player and wellbeing coach. He played [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]] and [[Fullback (rugby union)|fullback]], and his coaching focuses on player wellbeing.
==Early life and education==
Atiga's [[Samoan Islands|Samoan]] grandfather played in the first Samoan international team and others in his family also played international rugby for [[Tonga]] and [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meanderapparel.com/magazine/in-conversation-with-ben-atiga|title=In conversation with: Ben Atiga}}</ref>
He was educated at [[Auckland Grammar School]] and became the 50th All Black that the school has produced.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Atiga won world titles for New Zealand at Under-19 (2001 and 2002) and Under-21 level in 2003 and as captain in 2004, during his junior career. He was also part of the Under-21 team in 2002 where they placed 3rd in the tournament.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
==Playing career==
Atiga played one test for the [[New Zealand national rugby union team]], against Tonga in the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] after being called into the squad as an injury replacement for [[Ben Blair]].<ref name=injury>{{cite news | publisher=IRB.com | title=Atiga looks up to Cullen | url=http://www.rwc2003.irb.com/EN/Tournament/Teams/New+Zealand/kb2010+atiga+and+cullen.htm | accessdate=2008-03-21 | date=20 October 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503061547/http://www.rwc2003.irb.com/EN/Tournament/Teams/New+Zealand/kb2010+atiga+and+cullen.htm | archive-date=3 May 2005 | url-status=dead }}</ref> He played for the [[Junior All Blacks]] in 2005 against Australia 'A' and in 2006 in the inaugural [[Pacific Nations Cup]].
Atiga played for [[Auckland Rugby Football Union|Auckland]] in the [[ITM Cup|NPC]], winning three national titles and one title in the 2007 [[Air New Zealand Cup]], where Auckland went through an undefeated season, claiming the [[Ranfurly Shield]] in the same year. Atiga played for the [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]] in [[Super Rugby]], and in 2007 he joined the [[All Blacks Sevens team]] at the end of the Blues' season. After captaining Auckland in the 2008 ITM Cup season, Atiga made the decision to take a break from professional rugby.
After his break from rugby, in April 2010 it was announced that he would rejoin the Auckland Rugby Union and the Auckland Blues. After a season in Auckland, Atiga was signed by the [[Highlanders (rugby)|Highlanders]] for the 2011 season, following numerous injuries in the squad. He started from the bench against the [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]] in his return to top tier rugby. He subsequently played the 2011 ITM Cup with Otago.
In April 2012, he signed with [[Edinburgh Rugby]] for two seasons. At the beginning of the season, Atiga was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in his hip. He played both seasons with Edinburgh and retired from professional rugby at the end of the 2013–2014 season due to the joint disease.
==Player wellbeing==
Atiga has been open about his struggles with wellbeing whilst playing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-got-to-a-really-dark-place-that-i-didnt-even-know-i-was-in-ex-all-black-ben-atiga-and-former-fijian-stars-open-up-on-mental-health-struggles/|title='I got to a really dark place that I didn't even know I was in': Ex-All Black Ben Atiga and former Fijian stars open up on mental health struggles|date=May 2020 }}</ref> As of 2019, he works with [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland Rugby]] in the area of player wellbeing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45860974|title='Speaking to someone in a suit can be terrifying' - the hidden doubts of professional rugby players|work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meanderapparel.com/magazine/in-conversation-with-ben-atiga|title=In conversation with: Ben Atiga}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/former-all-black-ben-atigas-pastoral-role-scotlands-pro-players-more-vital-ever-2861235|title = Former All Black Ben Atiga's pastoral role with Scotland's pro players is more vital than ever}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071221204126/http://www.theblues.co.nz/player/profile.html?playerid=800392 Blues profile]
* {{All Blacks|id=1037|name=Ben Atiga}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|RSA}} [[Pat Barnard]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[IRB International U21 Player of the Year]]|years=2003}}
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|NZL}} [[Jerome Kaino]]}}
{{end}}
{{All Blacks Squad 2003 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atiga, Ben}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]]
[[Category:World Rugby Awards winners]]
[[Category:Auckland rugby union players]]
[[Category:Otago rugby union players]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Rugby players]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Auckland]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]]
[[Category:People educated at Auckland Grammar School]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent]]
[[Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players]]
[[Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Scotland]]
[[Category:Ponsonby RFC players]]
[[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]]
{{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-stub}}