Inga lived in Wylam for five years, from 1997 to 2002 when he was playing rugby for the Newcastle Falcons. He represented New Zealand at rugby union, winning 19 caps and later played for Samoa at both rugby union and rugby league. He had earlier made 102 rugby league appearances for Wigan from 1993-1997.
Inga was renowned for his physicality and power when playing, and his friendliness and gentle nature off the field.

Whilst he was living in Wylam Inga took under his wing two 19 year old Pacific Island rugby players from Tonga, Epi Taione and Soa Otuvaka, who played rugby for Tynedale RFC at Corbridge from 1997 until 2000.

Epi made 68 appearances for Tynedale and Soa played 62 times, until they were offered professional contracts at the Falcons. Epi later made 18 appearances for Tonga. Soa sadly died in 2004 from a brain tumour, leaving a wife, Jenny, and two children.

When the three men had lived together in Wylam the they had been regular and conscientious attenders at Wylam Methodist Chapel. They were very popular members of the congregation, but, as bulky rugby players it was said that the three took up about six spaces on the chapel benches!

D.F.Hamilton