Mils Muliaina
A versatile and dependable All Blacks fullback who became the first New Zealander to earn 100 test caps, a milestone of sheer longevity.
Born 1980 (age 46)·New Zealand international rugby union player·Birthday: July 31·Generation X
Biography
Mils Muliaina’s career is a testament to class and consistency at the highest level of rugby. Debuting for the All Blacks in 2003, he quickly made the number 15 jersey his own with a balanced game that combined a safe pair of hands, intelligent positioning, and a sharp attacking edge. He was a cornerstone of the successful All Blacks sides of the 2000s, playing a key role in the 2011 Rugby World Cup victory on home soil. Muliaina’s durability was remarkable; in 2010, he became the first All Black to reach 100 test caps, a landmark achievement that underscored his reliability. After a storied tenure in New Zealand, he took his talents abroad, playing in Japan, Ireland, and even the fledgling PRO Rugby competition in the United States. While others may have had more flash, Muliaina’s steady brilliance made him one of the most respected backs of his generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mils was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mils Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Mils's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first New Zealand rugby player to reach 100 test caps for the All Blacks in 2010.
- Won the Rugby World Cup with the New Zealand All Blacks in 2011.
- Won the Tri-Nations tournament five times with the All Blacks (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010).
- Scored 33 tries in his 100-test career for the All Blacks, a high rate for a fullback.
Did You Know?
His first name, 'Mils', is a nickname derived from 'Milky', a childhood moniker.
He is of Samoan descent.
He played professional rugby in four different countries: New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, and the United States.
He was named the New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year in 2009.
“I just wanted to be the best All Black fullback I could possibly be.”
