KEY POINTS:
Former New Zealand rugby league international Lesley Vainikolo plans to burst into England folklore on Sunday (NZT).
The 114kg convert to rugby union is desperate to make a huge impact on his Six Nations debut off the bench against Wales at Twickenham, London's Sun newspaper said.
But the
newspaper said it is unlikely that anything he achieves will eclipse his legendary status in rugby league, where his 149 tries in 152 games for Bradford Bulls made him a cult hero with Super League fans.
The player - known in Britain as the Volcano - is just as famous for his off-field antics.
Like the time he almost missed a meeting at the British Embassy in London because his wife had told him to go shopping in Oxford Street.
Or the time he tried to get a Spanish visa for the Bulls' training camp in Portugal - because he thought Portugal was in Spain.
Teammates also remembered regularly getting flogged in training as punishment for Les being spotted at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet.
Bulls football manager Stuart Duffy says Vainikolo was a "lovely kind bloke" but he also had the knack of putting his teammates in fits of either laughter or rage with the things he said and did.
Vainikolo, 28, said he was thrilled and proud following his England call-up. The Gloucester wing, who has played just 10 union games since switching codes, said: "This is all a dream come true for me. The more I heard talk about getting this chance, the more excited I became.
"I'm feeling very proud right now but I never plan ahead. For me, it is about getting out and doing the job.
"So far, I'm selected in the 22 and hoping to get into the action at some stage. If that happens, I will be the proudest man in Twickenham."
He has scored nine tries in his 10 games at Gloucester but missed several games following the tragic deaths of father Solomone and brother Kava to heart attacks during a six-week period either side of Christmas.
Vainikolo flew home twice during that time, staying for two weeks on the second trip in order to comfort his family. He said: "All I think about is my mum at home. All my tears and prayers go out to her."
Vainikolo is being compared with rampaging former All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Inga Tuigamala.
But he said: "I don't compare myself to anyone else. We are all individuals, all different. I am me, I'm Lesley."
He has frightening pace to go alongside awesome power, qualifying for the world junior athletics championships in 1998 after setting a New Zealand junior record of 10.6sec for 100m.
"This week is something I won't forget, whatever happens.
"This Six Nations is a massive chance for me.
"Of course, the World Cup in 2011 would be nice, especially as it's in New Zealand. But nothing matters more right now than this week."
- NZPA
