The All Blacks tweeted that Tuigamala, who played 19 tests, was “an icon and an inspiration” and “an all-time great who achieved things on and off the pitch others could only dream of”.
“All Black number 900, you will never forgotten.”
His rugby league club, Wigan Warriors, said on Twitter they were “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic news that former player Va’aiga (Inga) Tuigamala has passed away”.
Tuigamala’s death comes three weeks after his younger sister Helen Verry died in an accident at a West Auckland church.