27-year-old man dies after collapsing during a rugby match
Tiqe loved to play rugby. He started with rugby league while attending Ratu Kadavulevu School for Forms Three and Four.
Wednesday 02 July 2025 | 23:00
Tuva Rugby Club utility back who collapsed during the Nadroga Rugby Union club competition match in Lawaqa two weeks ago, died at the Lautoka hospital on Monday.
Samu Tiqe Lutumailagi, 27, of Semo Village, Tuva, Nadroga played hooker for his home side in their match against Lomawai on Thursday, June 20.
This was because the hooker did not turn up for the match.
I later learnt that he had borrowed money from his older and only sister for his fare to Lawaqa to play.
Tiqe's father
Speaking from Semo yesterday his father Tomasi Hatuku said Tiqe, as he is commonly known, was a hardworking young man who always played a big hand in their vanua and lotu obligations.
Hatuku, a taxi driver with 2000 based in Nadi had left for work on Thursday morning not aware that Lutumailagi had plans to go to Lawaqa later in the day for the weekly competition.
“We had breakfast together that morning (Thursday), I left for work while he would to the usual, and his hobby was planting. I assumed he would be attending to his cassava plantation,” Hatuku said.
“I did not know that after seeing me off to work he returned home to pick up his playing gear.
The tikina (district) of Tuva has eight villages: Vouwa, Nadroumai, Togovere, Semo, Nabau, Kamisi, Emuri and Niu Yoka.
Lutumailagi is the fifth child of eight siblings; he is one of the seven sons of Hatuku and Amelia Vesu.
“I later learnt that he had borrowed money from his older and only sister for his fare to Lawaqa to play,” Hatuku said.
“I was at work when they called me to say that he was rushed from Koromumu (Sigatoka Hospital) to Lautoka as he was in a serious condition,” he said.
“I also got to know that he had collapsed after the second scrum.
“Like every other typical son of Nadroga, Tiqe loves playing rugby, he started with rugby league while attending Ratu Kadavulevu School for Forms Three and Four.”
Lutumailagi represented 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.
He will be laid to rest at Semo on Friday.
When asked for a comment, Nadroga secretary Isireli Basiyalo yesterday referred SUNsports to the union president, Jiuta Waqavonovono who was not available at the time.
Feedback: karalaini.waqanidrola@fijisun.com.fj
