Last Tuesday, Mr Galuvao spoke to the students during the school's assemblies, which include chapel, and chatted with them afterwards.

He told them how his Christian faith sustained him in both his personal and professional lives and how footballers like all people had to expect suffering in their lives.

``I once had a sense of God but did not have a relationship with Him,'' Mr Galuvao said.

``But I found out that God wanted to know me.''

Mr Galuvao, now a 29-year-old family man, said life had been hard when he was growing up in Auckland in New Zealand.

Rugby league, he said, had given him an opening.

Several students in the assembly cheered when he said he first played for the Auckland Warriors.

Mr Galuvao also spoke to a boys' group about how to face challenges.

The school chaplain, Jean-Pierre Martinez, said their guest talked about how principles, not just feelings, should govern their lives.

``I like to get visitors who can motivate students for higher purposes in life,'' Mr Martinez said.

``My own role as chaplain is to empower them to make positive decisions about their lives.''

Mr Galuvao said he had once thought of life ``as a bit of a party and a big joke''.

``I was doing a few stupid things, but I should have been looking after myself,'' he said.