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Episode details

World Service,4 mins

One conviction, three injuries......and one World Cup dream

Not by the Playbook

Available for over a year

Junior Vaivai was emerging star in rugby league when, in 2011, he was sacked by his professional side the South Sydney Rabbitohs after being convicted of assaulting his girlfriend. He was fined and given a two-year behaviour bond. To add to that, three serious knee injuries - his career and life - were at rock bottom. It was his cousin - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, one of the biggest names in America entertainment - that persuaded him to carry on. This weekend Junior will be turning out for the United States at the World Cup. New Zealander by birth, he qualifies by virtue of his American-Saoman heritage. Junior told Caroline Barker his story - the lowest point was when he was sleeping in his car. Picture credit: Junior Vaivai and Dwayne Johnson (Getty Images)

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