Latest news with #Dakuwaqa
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Fiji's Dakuwaqa joins third-tier Nice after bite sentence
FORMER Olympic rugby sevens champion Masivesi Dakuwaqa will join French third-tier club Nice for next season, a week after being handed a suspended prison sentence for biting a team-mate, a club source told AFP. In January, Rio 2016 gold medallist Dakuwaqa bit Pierre Pages' cheek during a night out when they were both at second-tier outfit Biarritz. Last week, Fijian 31-year-old Dakuwaqa was handed an eight-month suspended sentence and a 300 euros ($342) fine for the incident. The back-rower, who can also feature at centre and on the wing was sacked by the Basque side and joined third division Perigueux on a short-term deal. Nice finished bottom of ProD2 this season after just one campaign in the second division and will be coached by Gareth Baber, who was Fiji sevens coach between 2016 and 2021, next season. They have also signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu and ex-South Africa back-rower Uzair Cassiem for the coming campaign.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Dakuwaqa Signs with Nice After Biting Incident Suspension
FORMER Olympic rugby sevens champion Masivesi Dakuwaqa will join French third-tier club Nice for next season, a week after being handed a suspended prison sentence for biting a team-mate, a club source told AFP. In January, Rio 2016 gold medallist Dakuwaqa bit Pierre Pages' cheek during a night out when they were both at second-tier outfit Biarritz. Last week, Fijian 31-year-old Dakuwaqa was handed an eight-month suspended sentence and a 300 euros ($342) fine for the incident. The back-rower, who can also feature at centre and on the wing was sacked by the Basque side and joined third division Perigueux on a short-term deal. Nice finished bottom of ProD2 this season after just one campaign in the second division and will be coached by Gareth Baber, who was Fiji sevens coach between 2016 and 2021, next season. They have also signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu and ex-South Africa back-rower Uzair Cassiem for the coming campaign.
Washington Post
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
‘I lost my way': Rugby player is cut loose after biting a teammate
A rugby player was dropped by his professional club in France after he bit his teammate during a night out. Masivesi Dakuwaqa, a gold medalist with Fiji at the 2016 Olympics, played for Biarritz Olympique, a second-tier team known by the abbreviation BOPB. 'Following the internal investigation conducted by the Club, the facts alleged against Masivesi Dakuwaqa made it impossible for him to continue his engagement with the club,' the team said Monday in a statement. 'It was mutually agreed to end his collaboration with the BOPB. The BOPB wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the values of the club and will not make any further comment on this decision.' Biarritz players gathered last month for a team party at a restaurant in southern France when Dakuwaqa reportedly became angry after teammates advised him not to drive home. The 30-year-old allegedly smashed a car window, spurring teammate Pierre Pagès to approach and try to talk to him, at which point Dakuwaqa bit Pagès, whose face was so bloodied it required 20 stitches. The team said Monday it terminated its contract with Dakuwaqa following an internal investigation into the incident. On Tuesday, the Fijian apologized to Pagès in the French newspaper L'Equipe. 'I'd so much like to apologise to Pierre. To apologise to him and his family,' he said. 'It should never have happened. If I hadn't been drinking, I'd never have done it. I drank too many beers. I lost my way.' Dakuwaqa played for Fiji's rugby sevens squad, which defeated Britain in 2016 to win the country's first Olympic medal in any sport. He described the incident to L'Equipe, noting his attorney said he was prohibited from reaching Pagès directly. 'We'd organised this meal between players to strengthen our team spirit after a series of defeats,' Dakuwaqa recounted. 'Everything was going well. We were telling stories and having a laugh. Then I had a blackout. I can't remember what happened. I woke up in a drunk tank, without my shirt, wondering what I was doing there. I couldn't remember a thing. I told myself I'd done something wrong, but I didn't know what. When the police questioned me, I asked them: 'Why am I here, what have I done? They said, 'You bit someone. I asked them, 'Who did I bite?' Then they showed me a photo of Pierre.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
French rugby club Biarritz fires Olympic sevens champion player amid allegations he bit a teammate
BIARRITZ, France (AP) — French rugby club Biarritz has terminated the contract of 2016 Olympic sevens gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa with immediate effect amid allegations that he bit a teammate during an alcohol-fuelled night out. According to reports in the French media, Dakuwaqa attacked scrumhalf Pierre Pagès when he tried to calm him down after a team party last month at a local restaurant in southern France. L'Equipe newspaper said Dakuwaqa became angry and aggressive after several teammates advised him not to drive home. The Fijian player reportedly smashed a car window, prompting Pagès to come over to talk to him. That's when Dakuwaqa allegedly bit his teammate, an injury that left his face bloodied and required stitches at a clinic in Biarritz. 'Following the club's internal investigation, the allegations made against Masivesi Dakuwaqa have made it impossible for him to continue his involvement with the club,' said Biarritz, which plays in the second division. The club said late Monday it would make no further comment. The 30-year-old Dakuwaqa was a member of Fiji's 2016 Olympic gold-medal winning squad. ___ AP rugby: The Associated Press
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
French rugby club Biarritz fires Olympic sevens champion player amid allegations he bit a teammate
BIARRITZ, France (AP) — French rugby club Biarritz has terminated the contract of 2016 Olympic sevens gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa with immediate effect amid allegations that he bit a teammate during an alcohol-fuelled night out. According to reports in the French media, Dakuwaqa attacked scrumhalf Pierre Pagès when he tried to calm him down after a team party last month at a local restaurant in southern France. L'Equipe newspaper said Dakuwaqa became angry and aggressive after several teammates advised him not to drive home. The Fijian player reportedly smashed a car window, prompting Pagès to come over to talk to him. That's when Dakuwaqa allegedly bit his teammate, an injury that left his face bloodied and required stitches at a clinic in Biarritz. 'Following the club's internal investigation, the allegations made against Masivesi Dakuwaqa have made it impossible for him to continue his involvement with the club,' said Biarritz, which plays in the second division.
