The Tuva Rugby Club is mourning the loss of utility back Samu Tiqe Lutumailagi, who passed away at Lautoka Hospital on Monday. Lutumailagi, 27, from Semo Village in Nadroga, collapsed during a Nadroga Rugby Union club competition match at Lawaqa two weeks ago.
Lutumailagi was playing as a hooker for his team in a match against Lomawai on Thursday, June 20, filling in for a missing player. His father, Tomasi Hatuku, described Tiqe as a hardworking young man dedicated to their community and religious duties.
Tomasi Hatuku, a taxi driver based in Nadi, left for work that Thursday morning after having breakfast with Lutumailagi, unaware of his son’s plans to participate in the rugby match. Hatuku noted that Lutumailagi usually spent his time planting cassava.
“I thought he would tend to his plantation after seeing me off to work, but he returned home to get his playing gear,” said Hatuku.
Tuva district comprises eight villages: Vouwa, Nadroumai, Togovere, Semo, Nabau, Kamisi, Emuri, and Niu Yoka. Lutumailagi was the fifth of eight children and one of Hatuku and Amelia Vesu’s seven sons.
Hatuku later discovered that Lutumailagi had borrowed money from his older sister for his fare to Lawaqa. “I was at work when they informed me that he was rushed from Sigatoka Hospital to Lautoka because he was in a serious condition,” he said. “They told me he had collapsed after the second scrum.”
Lutumailagi had a deep passion for rugby, having started with rugby league while attending Ratu Kadavulevu School. He also represented Cuvu College in the Fiji Secondary Schools Deans competition and was part of the Tuva Under-19 team that won the Coral Coast sevens’ U19 title for three consecutive years. He joined the Nadi NASA team last year.
Lutumailagi will be laid to rest in Semo on Friday.
When approached for a comment, Nadroga secretary Isireli Basiyalo referred inquiries to union president Jiuta Waqavonovono, who was unavailable at the time.