Injured rugby star Nick Afoa ready to roar for Kiwi dance stars

Afoa is now starring across the Tasman as one of the male leads in The Lion King.

Nick Afoa has roared back to life after injury wrecked his All Black dream.

Eleven years ago the blockbusting back appeared on track to realise his childhood ambition of wearing the treasured black jersey after starring for the New Zealand Under-19 team that won its age-grade World Cup.

But less than 12 months later a knee injury left his rugby career in tatters. Afoa took the shattering news badly, losing himself in the twilight world of Auckland's pub and club scene.

He has since reinvented himself as a singer and is now starring across the Tasman as one of the male leads in The Lion King, pictured.

Afoa, a cousin of former All Black John Afoa, will showcase his vocal talents on tomorrow night's episode of TV3's Dancing with the Stars.

"It is the first time I will have sung in front of a home crowd for a long time and I don't mind admitting I'm nervous," he said.

"There will be a lot of eyes on me, wondering what I'm all about."

Like Simba, the young lion cub he plays in The Lion King, 29-year-old Afoa knows what it is like to spend time in the wilderness.

He believes dealing with crushing disappointment has better prepared him for his new career. "My life experiences have added more depth to what I do."

Afoa, a tenor, joined the cast of The Lion King two years ago. The show is running in Melbourne after successful stints in Sydney and Brisbane. It will later move to Perth.

His wife, Kimberley, recently landed a backstage job on the show and life is sweet. "Before that, the crazy hours I work meant we were hardly spending any time together."

Afoa is now on the lookout for another musical or acting role for when The Lion King finishes up early next year. And he says he has moved on from mourning the end of his rugby career.

"Now and then I daydream it would be nice to pull on my boots again. I still love the game but will wait until I have a couple of sons and pass a few things on to them."