So'oialo had his 2004 Hurricanes season disrupted by injury but has writ his name large on the 2005 Super 12 competition.

So'oialo was appointed captain of the Wellington NPC team in 2004 and took his side to the competition final. In the process, the blockbusting Number Eight took his game to a new level and this resulted in an All Blacks recall for the end-of-year tour.

A member of the New Zealand Sevens team that won the Rugby World Cup Sevens at Mar del Plata in Argentina in 2001 and the Commonwealth Games gold medal at Manchester in 2002.