He played representative rugby union (RU) for New Zealand Under-21s, Samoa and World XV and at club level for Auckland, North Harbour and Sale Sharks, and representative rugby league (RL) for Western Samoa and at club level for St Helens, as a prop or second-row.

In the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup he played as an open side flanker, in the Samoans' four games (against Scotland, Wales, Argentina and Australia).

Perelini played for St Helens at prop in the 1996 Challenge Cup Final, scoring a try in the last minutes and helping his team to a 40-32 victory over the Bradford Bulls.

Apollo Perelini played at prop in St. Helens' 16-25 defeat by Wigan in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1995–96 at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.

[3] Perelini played for St Helens at prop in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls, having won this they contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers the Melbourne Storm, with Perelini playing from the interchange bench in the loss.

Apollo is also the current head coach of the UAE National Rugby team, a position which he started in 2015 for the UAERF.