despite the death of his son, Fijian Josua Tuisova remains in France to qualify his team – Libération

2023 Rugby World Cup in FrancedossierThe future Racing 92 player, 29, did not go to the funeral of his son Tito this Tuesday, preferring not to unbalance his team, which is aiming for the quarter-finals.

For the Fiji Village news site, dedicated to news from the Pacific archipelago, this is indeed the “ultimate sacrifice”. Fijian rugby player Josua Tuisova has just lost his son following a long illness, but he chose not to return home for the funeral which took place on Tuesday October 3. The future Racing 92 player preferred not to unbalance his team, which is aiming for the quarter-finals of the current World Cup.

Tuisova, 29, learned of the death of her son Tito, 7, from her father, Isikeli Ratulevu, just before the match between the Flying Fijians and Georgia on Saturday in Bordeaux. Despite his difficulty, he played in this match, won by Fiji, but did not finish the match, receiving a yellow card received in the 79th minute for a dangerous tackle.

He instructed his father to take care of the funeral ceremony which was held in the family stronghold of Votua, on the large northern island of the archipelago, Vanua Levu. “Josua Tuisova makes the ultimate sacrifice by staying in France to represent his country for the crucial match against Portugal,” greets Fiji Village, which recalls the link between Tuisova’s family and France, since his big brother played in Agen then Castres.

Scalps australiens

Asked about this drama on Tuesday during a press briefing, the Fijian coach, Simon Raiwalui, cut it short: “Josua respectfully asked not to talk about it, so we will not talk about it but will leave it in the private domain. .”

On September 17, in a bubbling Saint-Etienne “Cauldron” won over to their cause, the Flying Fijians claimed the scalp (22-15) of the Australians – in very poor form at this 2023 World Cup –, something never seen in fifty years. four years. On Saturday, they won against Georgia 17 to 12. The Fijians will reach the quarter-finals if they take at least one point against Portugal on Sunday in Toulouse.