Feaunati lands role in Hollywood film

Feaunati, who retired from professional rugby last summer, will be in good company after being cast in the currently untitled film, alongside Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Freeman portrays Nelson Mandela in the inspiring true story of how the newly elected South African president joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team (Damon) to help unite their country. In the wake of apartheid, President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

Feaunati, who is currently working as Director of Rugby at Bishops Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield, landed the part after being contacted by the Professional Rugby Players' Association who called him up on behalf of the film's casting agents. Indeed it was none other than his former teammate, Bath prop and PRA Chairman David Barnes, who first called Feaunati to tell him of the opportunity.

Feaunati relates the story: "The first call I got about it was from my old teammate Barnesey, asking me if I wanted to be in a Clint Eastwood film, so I was 99% sure it was a prank. But then when I got a further call from the PRA offices, it dawned on me that maybe this was serious! The PRA organised for me to go down to London for an interview with a casting director."

Feaunati continues: "Initially, all I had to do was talk a bit about myself for the casting director, and then she asked me to do the haka. There were three or four other office staff there, but I just thought what the heck and off I went, as mad as I could! I think I might have scared one or two of the ladies there, but I guess it did the trick as a couple of days later I got another call from the PRA telling me I'd got the part!

Feaunati, the former Samoan back rower, who won 13 international caps during his playing career, was born and grew up in New Zealand. In the film, he will play one of the All Blacks team who competed against South Africa in the final of Rugby World Cup 1995. He will be in South Africa for six weeks, and news of his trip has got around the Midlands pretty fast.

Says Feaunati: "For me, everything has been a bit surreal, but the Midlands is rocking with the news! My family, friends and the school have all been buzzing since they've heard. In fact, I think some of them are more excited than me! David Iddon, the Headteacher at Bishop Vesey's, has been 100% behind me since I first told him I had the chance to go for the audition, and I've been given the red carpet at school since I told them I'd got the part."

On his own reaction, Feaunati says: "I've been lucky as a rugby player to have had the chance to play rugby in front of thousands of people, but to do something like this is the sort of thing you only ever dream of. I didn't expect anything when I went for the audition, so realising that I'm going to be in a film directed by Clint Eastwood has all been a bit of a shock. How and what I'll be doing are still all a bit of a mystery, but I do know it's going to be a fantastic experience from start to finish."

Zak Feaunati began his rugby career in New Zealand, and won the first of his 13 international caps for Samoa in 1996. Arriving in England in 1997, he played for London Irish and Leeds before joining Bath Rugby in 2003, and made 131 appearances for the Bath club before retiring in the summer of 2008.

Zak is currently Director of Rugby at Bishop Vesey's School, Sutton Coldfield. His appointment, in the summer of 2008 was the culmination of two years work with his regional PRA Player Development Manager, Zoe Eaton, ensuring Zak achieved a successful transition into a new career after rugby.