Fijian rugby star Josaia Raisuqe has tragically died while on his way to training on Thursday morning, aged 30.
The former Fiji Sevens winger, who had been playing for Castres Olympique since 2021, is understood to have passed away following a road accident.
Reports from L’Equipe claim that the footy star was ‘hit by a train at a level crossing’.
The outlet adds that his team-mates have been informed of the incident and were released on Thursday by the club.
A psychological unit has also been set up to provide support players and staff.
Castres or Fiji are yet to make a statement but several other French clubs and members of the rugby union community have paid tribute to the Fiji star.
In 2024, Raisuqe represented Fiji at the Paris Olympics, with the winger going on to help his side clinch a silver medal.
‘Josaia was an absolutely adorable boy. He was always the first in training, whether it was raining, windy, or snowing,’ former coach Xavier Péméja said.
The Top 14 club are set to face Claremont on Saturday at the Stade Pierre-Fabre.
Raisuqe was drafted to the Fiji men’s Sevens squad by coach Ben Ryan back in 2015, after the legendary sevens coach spotted him playing during the Martintar and Marist Sevens tournaments in Fiji.
He was drafted straight into the squad for that year’s Hong Kong Sevens, before going on to feature in five tournaments on the sevens circuit, notably scoring 14 tries.
Later in 2015, he’d pen a deal to join Parisian club Stade Francais and would stay with the Top 14 side for two years, leaving for Pro D2 club Nevers in 2017.
He’d go on to join up with Pro D2 side Nevers, being crowned the league’s top try scorer for the 2018-19 season with 15 tries.
The Fijian winger went viral back in 2021 after he bizarrely lifted a referee up into the air to celebrate a victory in the French second division.
While he admitted he didn’t want to harm the referee and was just overcome with joy following the victory Raisuqe was handed a red card by the official and was banned for five weeks.
That year, he’d go on to join up with Castres and has been playing for the club since.
Several rugby clubs from around the French top division have paid tribute to the Castres winger with Toulouse writing on X: ‘Stade Toulousain was shocked to learn of the death of Josaia Raisuqe this morning in a road accident.
‘The entire club wishes to express its support and sincere condolences to his family, loved ones and his club, Castres Olympique.’
Toulon added in a statement on social media: ‘Rugby Club Toulonnais is devastated to learn of the death of Josaia Raisuqe this morning, while he was on his way to training.
‘Our thoughts go out to his family, his loved ones, his teammates, the Castres Olympique club and his supporters.’
More to follow…
