Samu Tiqe Lutumailagi, a 27-year-old player from Tuva Rugby Club, tragically passed away at Lautoka hospital on Monday. He had collapsed during a match in Lawaqa which was part of the Nadroga Rugby Union club competition two weeks ago.
Hailing from Semo Village, Tuva, Nadroga, Lutumailagi had been filling in as hooker for his local team in their match against Lomawai on June 20, as the regular player didn’t show up.
His father, Tomasi Hatuku, described him as a diligent young man who took significant part in their community and religious activities. Hatuku, a taxi driver based in Nadi, was unaware of his son’s plans to play in Lawaqa on that ill-fated day. He had assumed Lutumailagi would be in his usual routine of tending to his cassava plantation, which the young man had passion for.
Lutumailagi was the fifth of eight siblings, and one of the seven sons of Hatuku and Amelia Vesu. His father shared that Lutumailagi borrowed fare money from his older and only sister to travel for the match in Lawaqa.
Having a deep love for rugby like many Nadroga sons, Lutumailagi’s involvement with rugby began at Ratu Kadavulevu School. He also represented Cuvu College in the Fiji Secondary Schools Deans competition. His other notable achievement includes being part of the Tuva Under-19 team that clinched the Coral Coast sevens’ U19 title for three consecutive years.
Lutumailagi had been playing with the Nadi NASA team since last year and is set to be laid to rest in Semo on Friday. When contacted for comments, Nadroga secretary Isireli Basiyalo referred the press to union president Jiuta Waqavonovono, who was unavailable at that time.