The rugby world is mourning another death after a Samoan player died in hospital four days after a suspected head injury led to a cardiac arrest.
The Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) confirmed that former Manu Samoa under-20 team flanker Faiva Tagatauli died on Thursday in Apia.
In an announcement on its Facebook page, Samoan Rugby said the 27-year-old forward had a cardiac arrest after falling unconscious following a game for his Vaimoso club in Tuana’imato last Saturday.
It said he had suffered “a suspected head injury”.
Tagatauli’s passing follows the deaths of four young French rugby players in the past year.
The SRU said Tagatauli “got to his feet” 10 minutes from the end of the game “and left the field unaided”. He had “wanted to be replaced”.
He lost consciousness on the sidelines.
Emergency services were alerted and he was revived and stabilised before an ambulance took him to Samoa’s National Hospital.
The SRU said Tagatauli was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest and spent four days in the hospital’s high dependency unit “fighting for his life”.
We are just devastated to hear the tragic news that former Samoa under-20 player Faiva Tagatauli has died after playing for his club Vaimoso at the weekend. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends, his club and @manusamoa
— Brett Gosper (@brettgosper) January 24, 2019
SRU chief executive Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai said on Facebook: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Faiva’s wife Seutatia, and their son as well as their family at Fagamalo at this time.
“We also express our condolences to the Vaimoso Rugby Club who have lost a popular team mate.
“We will do all possible within our means to offer the support in this difficult time.
“The Union prioritises and recognises the importance of player welfare.
“We work closely with the Rugby Players Associations and World Rugby to ensure training and awareness programs are rolled out through match officials, coaches and administrators.”
Faiva Tagatauli played for Samoa’s Under 20 team in 2011 under former All Black John Schuster. The team went on to win the Junior World Trophy in Georgia. He also played in the Super 9 tournament.
