Wellington and Manu Samoa hooker Tala Leiasamaivao had his career cut short in 1998 as a result of a serious neck injury. Leiasamaivao played three times off the bench for the Hurricanes in 1997 as an understudy to Norm Hewitt, and again made three appearances in 1998, again all as substitute appearances. He played for Wellington between 1991-1994 and 1996-1997, winning a total of 29 caps. He scored a try in his final NPC match for Wellington in a high scoring end of season 42-44 loss to Auckland.

He played internationals for Samoa for a number of years, lining up against the All Blacks in Auckland in 1993 and for Samoa in the 1995 World Cup. He also made the New Zealand Colts early in his career and was an All Black trialist.