A 27-year-old rugby player from Semo Village, Tuva, in Nadroga, who collapsed during a Nadroga Rugby Union club competition at Lawaqa two weeks ago, died on Monday at Lautoka Hospital.
Samu Tiqe Lutumailagi, who played as a hooker for Tuva Rugby Club in their match against Lomawai on June 20, collapsed after the second scrum. His father, Tomasi Hatuku, shared that Lutumailagi was a dedicated and hardworking individual who contributed greatly to their community and religious commitments.
On the day of the match, Hatuku, a taxi driver, had breakfast with Lutumailagi before heading to work, unaware of his son’s plans to participate in the weekly rugby competition. Lutumailagi, who usually spent his time attending to his cassava plantation, had borrowed money from his older sister for fare to Lawaqa.
Upon learning of his son’s condition, Hatuku was informed that Lutumailagi was transferred from Sigatoka Hospital to Lautoka Hospital in a serious state.
Lutumailagi started his rugby journey with rugby league during his time at Ratu Kadavulevu School and later represented Cuvu College in the Fiji Secondary Schools Deans competition. He was part of the Tuva Under-19 team that clinched the Coral Coast Sevens U19 title for three consecutive years and had been playing for the Nadi NASA team since last year.
Survived by his parents and seven siblings, Lutumailagi will be laid to rest in Semo on Friday. Attempts to reach Nadroga Rugby Union’s president for comments were unsuccessful.