Career
As well as playing for New Zealand, he represented Samoa in both rugby union and rugby league, playing at centre and wing. As a rugby union player, he was known as a powerful runner, physically much larger than most typical wings. In rugby league, also playing as a centre, he became an integral part of the very successful 1990s' Wigan team.
Rugby union
When rugby union became openly professional in 1996, Tuigamala was one of a number of former rugby union players who returned from rugby league – he played for London Wasps, winning the English Premiership and later joined Newcastle Falcons in a world record £1m deal. Inga scored a hat-trick on his third appearance for Newcastle against Moseley at Kingston Park and was an important part of the 1998 Championship-winning side, making 16 appearances that season. He then delayed an arm operation to put in a Man of the Match performance in the 2001 Cup Final.
Upon signing for the Falcons, team-mate Doddie Weir called Tuigamala "simply the best rugby player in the world". He made his debut for Western Samoa in 1996 against Ireland, going on to play 23 test matches, scoring 3 tries. He was an important part of the Samoa squad at the 1999 World Cup.
He has been known for his Christian faith, and in particular for the influence he had with future England rugby union captain Jason Robinson, a team-mate at Wigan. His contentment in life with God was something deeply moving for Robinson, and over their months of friendship, Tuigamala shared his Christian faith, though it wasn't until some time later that Robinson became a Christian. Rugby league
Va'aiga Tuigamala played centre, i.e. number 3, (replaced by Interchange/Substitute Paul Atcheson on 56-minutes) and scored 2-tries in Wigan's 40-10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995, and played centre, i.e. number 3, and scored a try in the 25-16 victory over St. Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.
He also played international rugby league for Samoa, including at the 1995 World Cup. In October 2009 he travelled to Samoa with David Tua to see how they could assist in the aftermath of the Samoa tsunami.