Best known for his midfield partnership with Australian Richard Tombs, he was versatile enough to appear in every position across the back line with the exception of scrum half.
He played well over 200 times for Gloucester and loved his time at the club just as much as the Kingsholm faithful clearly adored him.
Since his arrival at the club, Director of Rugby Nigel Davies has spoken of the importance of heritage and passion, and quickly identified the Samoan international as an appropriate person to come in and speak to the current squad.
Few current players understand what Gloucester stands for more than flanker Andy Hazell, yet even he was inspired by what Fanolua had to say when he came in shortly before the squad set off for training camp in France.
"It's quite easy for me to get passionate about Gloucester but hearing it from someone like Terry, it just hit home all over again.
"It was great for the young lads but also really important for the older players to hear it from an outside influence too.
"I always tell myself never to take playing for Gloucester for granted, but you still worry that you could perhaps get too comfortable, and you're always working hard to make sure that doesn't happen.
"So to have that extra reminder of just how much it means to Gloucester and everyone involved with the city, it was pretty special."
"We'll definitely refer back to that for an extra two per cent of motivation in tough times during the season, there's no doubt of that. No one will forget that in a hurry, I can promise you that.
Fanolua's speech left the players under no illusion as to what is expected of them according to Hazell who is about to enter his 16th season with the club.
"He told the squad that if you are here for the money, the coaches and the fans will find you out, that if you are here for the kudos, then everyone will find you out for that too.
"It was exactly what was needed and nothing more needs to be said to be honest for a while after that. That was the first meeting of that type so far, and it hit the perfect tone."
And it was also apparent just what an impression Gloucester as a whole - the club, the city and the people - had on Fanolua during his time here.
"He talked about that feeling of running past the Shed in the pre-match warm-up, and how you will never, ever forget that, as long as you live.
"He talked about running onto the pitch at Kingsholm, taking it all in, and realising just how many people you cannot afford to let down.
"And he told the squad that as long as they do their utmost not to let down their team mates, the coaches, the supporters and their families, then the entire city will always be behind them."
