Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio

Aupito William Sio pays tribute to 'gentle giant' Dylan Mika

The flanker died, aged 45, at his Auckland home on Tuesday of a suspected heart attack.

The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, described Tiumalu as a gentle giant off the field, but a man with a lot of physical strength and passion on the field.

Minister Aupito said he was shocked and saddened to hear the news as he personally knew the Mika family.