Utility Back for Tuva Rugby Club Dies after collapsing during Match, Fans and Family Mourns

Samu Tiqe Lutumailagi, a 27-year-old utility back for Tuva Rugby Club, who collapsed during a Nadroga Rugby Union club competition match in Lawaqa two weeks ago, passed away at Lautoka Hospital on Monday.

Lutumailagi, from Semo Village in Tuva, Nadroga, played as a hooker for his team in their match against Lomawai on Thursday, June 20, due to the regular hooker’s absence. And collapsed after the second scrum.

“Like many sons of Nadroga, Tiqe has a passion for rugby. He began with rugby league while attending Ratu Kadavulevu School during Forms Three and Four.”

Lutumailagi played for Cuvu College in the Fiji Secondary Schools Deans competition.

He was also a member of the Tuva Under-19 team that won the Coral Coast Sevens U19 title for three consecutive years.

He has been part of the Nadi NASA team since last year.

Speaking from Semo yesterday, his father Tomasi Hatuku said Tiqe, as he was commonly known, was a hardworking young man who was deeply involved in their vanua and lotu obligations.

He will be laid to rest at Semo on Friday according to his family