In 2011 he was shortlisted by the Rugby Players' Association for their Players' Player of the Year award alongside Chris Ashton, Chris Budgen, Nick Evans, Thomas Waldrom and Tom Wood.
Sapolu is one of six 49ers to own four Super Bowl Championship Rings (1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994), and the only one of those to earn a ring with the '94 team rather than their first title in 1981.