Death of a rugby star at 39: macabre discovery after a worrying disappearance

This is very sad news for all sports lovers and rugby fans in particular. After a festive weekend with the great victory of the XV of France against South Africa at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille in the presence of Charlene and Albert of Monaco, French rugby woke up yesterday with very sad news. The death of a former professional player was announced yesterday afternoon… Arriving from the Fiji Islands to play in France in 2008, Akuila Nawerecagi played for several French clubs. If he started his career on the side of Lons-le-Saunier, he then left for the Section Paloise (Pau) for three seasons.

Stayed three seasons in the club which then played in Pro D2 (the second French division), he then left for US Bressane before ending his career in 2014 on the side of Chalon-sur-Saöne. Following his prolific career, the 39-year-old Fijian decided to stay in France and settled in Mercurey (Saône-et-Loire) where he lived with his children. Their mother lived not far from here, in Couches, and it was on a road between the two towns that Akuila Nawerecagi’s body was found. According to information from newspaper of Saône-et-Loirethe latter had been missing since the night of Thursday to Friday after he left his home.

Found dead in his car

Worried, a neighbor of the former rugby player called the gendarmerie to tell them of the prolonged absence of the former athlete. It was finally Saturday afternoon that Akuila Nawerecagi’s car was found in an accident. It was a motorist who made the macabre discovery and according to the first elements of the investigation, the rugby player lost control of his car while he was on departmental road 978. The presence of a thick fog at the time of the accident could be the cause of this tragedy, which hit his former club Pau hard. “The Section has learned with great sadness of the disappearance of Akuila Nawerecagi, club player between 2009 and 2012. To his family, friends and loved ones, we offer our most sincere condolences”commented the club on its social networks.

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