Vaafusuaga (40) has finally decided to call it quits after after a premier career that started in 1989 when Taieri beat a Kaikorai team that included All Black Mike Brewer 13-12.
He stayed with the club through the lean years but feels happy about giving up now that it is in good heart.
"I'm happy to step aside and let the young guys come through," Vaafusuaga said.
"I'm leaving a team in good heart and don't feel guilty about it. I stayed on to help the club get back and establish itself in premier rugby."
Vaafusuaga is still enthusiastic about rugby but his body is starting to creak a bit.
"It's more physical than mental," he said.
"My knees are getting a bit shaky and my joints ache a bit on the cold training nights."
When he drove home after his last hard Tuesday night practice this week, Vaafusuaga reflected on his 22 years of rugby for Taieri and Green Island.
"There are guys in the team now who were not born when I played my first premier game."
He is pleased with the success Taieri has had since it started back in division one last year.
"We have added something to Dunedin premier rugby," he said.
"Other clubs don't see a big crowd of supporters until the Taieri game."
Vaafusuaga played 194 premier games for Taieri before playing 48 for Green Island between 2001-03 when Taieri did not have a division one team.
He returned to Taieri and played division two rugby until it regained premier division one status at the end of the 2008 season when it beat University B 42-17 in the promotion-relegation game.
Vaafusuaga will end his premier career on a Dunedin record of 269 games.
He is followed by Graeme (Billy) Laing (Dunedin) on 242 and Kevin Galliven (Taieri and Dunedin) on 235.
Twelve players have notched up 200 or more premier games in Dunedin competition.
The New Zealand record for premier games in a major city competition is the 305 played by Tala Kale, a prop, in Christchurch.
A strong-running No 8, Vaafusuaga was a regular member of Otago B teams during the 1990s and played one pre-season game for Otago A in 1998.
Vaafusuaga has been humbled by the friendships he has made during his 22 years playing top rugby.
"I always enjoy the company of the opposition teams in the clubrooms afterwards," he said.
"It will be a special day for me on Saturday. I have enjoyed the club and the friendships I have made."
His biggest supporters have been his wife, Rhonda, and children, Jesse (10), Gracie (8) and Charlotte (3).
They will all be at Peter Johnstone Park on Saturday to watch Taieri take on Dunedin in the playoff for fifth and sixth.
The 200 Club - Long service given
268: Erik Vaafusuaga (Taieri and Green Island)
242: Graeme (Billy) Laing (Dunedin)
235: Kevin Galliven (Taieri and Dunedin)
218: Ken Whitson (Taieri)
Others: Paul Bennett (Green Island), Andrew Hendry (Green Island), Laurie Kovaleski (Taieri), Allan Ives (Taieri), Chris Wyllie (Taieri), Simon Maole (Kaikorai), Hunter Darry (Green Island and Dunedin), Jason Short (Green Island)
