The 45-year-old back row dynamo played for Bridgend, Celtic Warriors and Cardiff Blues during his incredible career. He saw out his career at Ampthill, where Turner is the head coach.
“I’d just like to thank Maama for his huge contribution to Ampthill Rugby. He will remain as one of the key figures in our great climb up the leagues into the Championship,” said Turner.
“His on-field performances and his off-field manner have been outstanding. He is a great man and a great player and I wish him the very best in his retirement from the game.”
As well as his time spent in Wales, Molitika also had short spells playing in Japan with IBM Big Blue – “I went to Japan on the recommendation of my friend, Jonah Lomu, and it was a great experience and one that I thoroughly enjoyed” – and in Italy with San Dona. He also spent a season at Harlequins after the Warriors folded.
He helped Bridgend win their first Welsh premiership title in 2002-03, finishing the season as their leading try scorer, and then joined the Warriors when the Regions were first introduced the next season. His next stop was the Twickenham Stoop, and a season with the Quins, before heading to Japan.
Ma’ama Molitika In action for Bridgend
“My professional rugby career has spanned over 21 years and I’m lucky to have experienced all the things I have, from playing for my country at international level to being selected for the Barbarians, through to playing for each and every club I have,” said Molitika.
“I’m now moving onto the next chapter which will hopefully include me staying within the game and allowing me to coach others, using my experience and knowledge.”
That experience also included winning 18 caps for Tonga over an 11 year period and playing in three Test for the Pacific islanders on their 2006 tour to the UK. He twice played against Wales, once for Tonga at St Helen’s, Swansea, and once at the Millennium Stadium for the Islanders. His final international appearance was as a replacement against England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
But perhaps his greatest period as a player came on his return to Wales in 2007 when he joined Cardiff Blues. He spent seven seasons at the Arms Park, making 112 appearances, and helped them reach the Heineken Cup semi-finals in 2008, win the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2009 and become the first Welsh side to win a European trophy in 2010 when they beat Toulon in the Challenge Cup final in Marseilles.
He was a few months short of his 38th birthday when he finally left the Blues, but that wasn’t the end of his amazing career. Italian rugby was next up on his list as he joined newly promoted San Dona for a season.
When he left Italy he returned to live in Wales, but went on to play for another seven seasons at Ampthill. Between 2013-2020 he made a further 160 appearances as he provided the experience to lead the side in promotion season into Division One and then the Championship, in which they finished fifth at the first attempt.
It has been some journey for the boy born in Ha’apai, Tonga, and who then went on to live in New Zealand. He went to the same school as Warren Gatland, Hamilton Boys, after being sent to live with his Grandmother at the age of 15.
Lifting the Anglo-Welsh Cup with Tau Filise
He graduated from there to the Fraser Tech club, where he was coached by the future All Blacks and USA Eagles head coach, and now England defence coach, John Mitchell. Mitchell asked him to join him at Sale Sharks, but instead he came on the 1997 Tongan tour to Wales.
It was a defining moment for him. No fewer than seven other members of that touring party ended up playing in Wales – Kuli Faletau, Josh Taumalolo, Dave Tiueti, Ngalu Tau, Kati Tu’ipulotu and the Vunipola brothers, Fe’ao and Elisi – and it led to Molitika joining Bridgend.
The sons of Fe’ao Vunipola, Mako and Billy, have both played for England, Kuli Faletau’s son is, of course, the great Wales and British & Irish Lions No 8 Taulupe, while Kati Tu’ipulotu’s son, Carwyn, has played for Wales U18 and is in the Scarlets Academy.
As for Molitika, his three sons, Kalafi (19), Xander (17) and Leni (3)were all born in Wales. Kalafi plays for Bridgend Athletic, while Xander has been included in the Ospreys U16 squad as a prop forward.
“Wales is my home now, it is a beautiful place to live, and the Welsh people are second to none. My wife, Helen, is from Wales and my boys have grown up here and have high hopes of following in my footsteps and playing their rugby in Wales,” added Molitika.
“I will miss everything about rugby, it is all I have known. I will miss the social life of it, the prep before games, just the routine and the people – rugby gives you friends for life.”
