ˈæftɚ kˈæptɪnɪŋ ˈɔːklənd ɪnðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt ˌaɪtˌiːˈɛm kˈʌp sˈiːzən, ˈæɾɪɡə mˌeɪd ðə dᵻsˈɪʒən tə tˈeɪk ɐ bɹˈeɪk fɹʌm pɹəfˈɛʃənəl ɹˈʌɡbi.
After captaining Auckland in the 2008 ITM Cup season, Atiga made the decision to take a break from professional rugby.