Latest news with #JosaiaRaisuqe
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Castres fall short at Bordeaux-Begles in first game since Raisuqe death
Castres lost 34-29 at Bordeaux-Begles in the French Top 14 on Saturday as the visitors returned to action following the tragic death of Fijian Josaia Raisuqe. Raisuqe, who turned 30 in July, was killed on May 8 after being hit by a train while driving to training and his mother was present at Stade Chaban-Delmas to watch the game. Following the match, players from both sides came together for an emotional on-field rendition of the gospel song "We Shall Overcome" -- synonymous with Fijian rugby -- with Raisque's mum in tears. Raisuqe's team-mate and compatriot Leone Nakarawa was also overcome by emotion as the whole stadium rose to applaud the singing. The hosts, who are preparing for next weekend's Champions Cup final against Northampton, stay second in the table with two rounds of the season to play. Castres are fifth and strengthened their claim for a place in the play-offs with a bonus point thanks to Jeremy Fernandez's late penalty. Pre-game, Bordeaux-Begles fans unfurled a banner saying 'Rest in Peace Josaia', illustrating the impact the Olympic silver medallist's death has had on the sport in France. The away side, five-time French champions, started the game the better, racing into a 14-0 lead after 17 minutes which included a superb finish from Uruguay scrum-half Santiago Arata. The half-back celebrated his try by looking up to the sky in reference to the passing of Raisuqe, who had become a popular member of the Castres squad since his arrival in 2021. The home team took control of the fixture before half-time however, scoring five tries to make it 29-14. The pick of them came just before the half-hour mark from fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who also set-up half-back partner Maxime Lucu seven minutes earlier. Castres came back into the match thanks to two second-half touchdowns but were unable to find the crucial try late on. Later, Raisuqe's first club in France, 13th-placed Stade Francais, host Lyon in an encounter crucial to the league's three-way relegation scrap. Bottom-side Vannes head to Bayonne and Perpignan, in 12th, are at Clermont. Champions Toulouse entertain Racing 92 in the final game of the day. On Sunday, Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle face Montpellier in the hunt for the play-offs with the former Ireland fly-half in the midst of a five-week suspension. Last week, O'Gara refused to leave the team bus for the start of the win at Vannes in protest against his ban for his behaviour towards a match official in January's loss at Toulon. iwd/nf
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Toulouse crush Toulon to reach Top 14 semis as Castres pay tribute to Raisuqe
Toulouse crushed Toulon for the third time this season on Saturday with a 50-16 win to qualify directly for the Top 14 semi-finals as Castres mourned Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe. Some 2,000 people gathered at the Stade Pierre-Fabre in Castres to pay their respects to Raisuqe after the Fijian Olympic silver medallist died Thursday when his car was hit by a train. A minute's applause will be held at all Top 14 and second-tier matches this weekend. "We will all remember his spectacular plays, his flashes of genius," said Castres president Pierre-Yves Revol, speaking fondly of a player who was "always smiling". Players, members of the coaching staff and other club officials joined supporters at the entrance to the stadium, with large screens and Fijian flags set up as part of a ceremony in memory of the 30-year-old winger. Raisuqe was on his way to training earlier this week when the train collided with his car on a level crossing. "Castres will be there in every way possible to make the days to come a little less heavy, a little less painful," added Revol, after a tearful address from Raisuqe's partner, Ilona. Saturday's game between Castres, who are fifth in the table, and Clermont was postponed and rescheduled for the weekend of May 24-25. Top 14 leaders Toulouse ensured their place in the semi-finals and moved 15 points ahead of Bordeaux-Begles, who play in Montpellier on Sunday, with an emphatic win over Toulon. Toulon, reduced to 14 men throughout the second half, suffered their third defeat in their last four matches in all competitions and remain stuck in third place. Ugo Mola's Toulouse, looking to redeem themselves from their Champions Cup semi-final defeat, took an early lead with a penalty try. Mathis Castro-Ferreira doubled the lead with a 14th minute try before fly-half Romain Ntamack left the pitch with concussion and was replaced by Paul Graou. Santiago Chocobares, Naoto Saito, Paul Costes, Matthis Lebel, Pierre-Louis Barassi and Graou also touched down for Toulouse. - Hastoy lifts La Rochelle - Earlier, La Rochelle fly-half Antoine Hastoy's late drop goal snatched a precious 30-29 win over Vannes to stay in the race to qualify for the Top 14 final phase. After the postponement of the Castres match, La Rochelle moved into sixth place, the last qualifying spot for the play-offs, thanks to their bonus-point victory. The western port side came close to defeat against bottom outfit Vannes, who had come back from 12-0 down and thought they had a crucial victory for survival when prop Thomas Moukoro's try put his team 29-27 in front after 77 minutes. But they were crushed by Hastoy's masterful drop goal in the 80th minute, scored some 40 metres from the posts to give his team a third consecutive win. Also a contender for the play-offs, Lyon took a risky gamble by resting most of their senior players after winning their Challenge Cup semi-final against Racing. But Karim Ghezal's decision failed to pay off, as his seventh-placed side suffered a narrow 29-27 defeat against a determined Pau who won thanks to Thibault Daubagna's 76th-minute penalty. Pau are ninth, four points behind La Rochelle. Bayonne, meanwhile, consolidated their fourth place with a 24-24 draw against a tough but uninspired Racing 92 team, who are in 11th position. In a close, nerve-racking match, Perpignan defeated Stade Francais 20-18, giving themselves a bit of breathing room in the relegation race by climbing one place to 12th -- the spot previously occupied by the capital side. Despite two long-range misses, Tommaso Allan scored the decisive penalty with five minutes remaining. Stade Francais are now in more danger than ever -- 13th and in the relegation zone, just one point ahead of Vannes. bur-ea/nf
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Olympic Rugby Medalist Dies at 30 in Traffic Accident
Olympic silver medalist and professional Fijian rugby player Josaia Raisuqe has died following a traffic accident. He was 30. His team, French rugby club Castres Olympique, announced news of his death in a statement on May 8. 'Castres Olympique is in mourning,' the club Raisuqe was reportedly en route to his team's training center when his vehicle was struck by a train. 'The entire CO family is devastated by this terrible news. Josh had been a member of the club since 2021,' the post continued. 'He was a wonderful teammate, much loved by everyone, including the Castres supporters who had embraced him. We extend our sincere condolences and thoughts to his family and loved ones.' Related Stories 4/25/2025 4/8/2025 Club President and Chairman Pierre-Yves Revol extended his condolences. 'He was a radiant young man, both on and off the pitch, and a pillar of the Fijian community that we have at the Club and to which we are very attached,' 'It's also hard at this moment not to talk about the faith of all these players and Josaia. It goes beyond pain, to help them in this difficult moment for everyone.' Originally from Naitasiri, Fiji, a Pacific island nation east of Australia, Raisuqe joined Castres Olympique as a winger in 2021. He began playing professional club rugby in France in 2015, when he joined Top 14 champion Stade Francais, the highest level of domestic rugby in the nation. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Raisuqe was part of Fiji's silver medal-winning rugby sevens team, defeating Ireland in the quarter-finals and Australia in the semifinals. Fiji lost to France in the final. The rugby sevens version of the game is played with seven players instead of the standard 15. Castres Olympique's next match against ASM Clermont, originally scheduled for this weekend, has been In place of the game, Castres Olympique is paying homage to Raisuqe with a remembrance ceremony at the Pierre Fabre Stadium in Castres, France, on May 10. 'This ceremony will be an opportunity to come together with family, friends and the entire club to honor his memory, share a moment of solidarity and show your support,' the team
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fijian Drua grieve death of Castres winger Raisuqe
Fijian Drua players were deeply affected by the death of former Fiji international Josaia Raisuqe, its captain and coach said, contributing to their defeat to the Auckland Blues and ending their Super Rugby play-off hopes. The last-placed Drua were beaten 34-5 by the defending champions in Suva on Friday, a ninth loss from 12 matches leaving them with no chance of qualifying for next month's top-six finals. The match kicked off just hours after the Drua players learned of the death of France-based Raisuqe, who helped his country win Olympic rugby sevens silver in Paris last year. The 30-year-old died after his car was hit by a train on Thursday, his Top 14 club Castres Olympique said. Drua captain Mesake Doge said it was "gut-wrenching" for his players, many of whom knew Raisuqe. "Our feelings are for his family, especially with Josaia being away from home," Doge told Sky Sport on Friday. "I know the boys are feeling it for one of our brothers. It was a bit gut-wrenching for us this morning." Drua coach Glen Jackson said the "tragic loss" of Raisuqe contributed towards a modest performance from his team. "With so much on the line it is obviously an upsetting performance for the boys and for everyone watching," New Zealander Jackson said. "I know how much effort they put in to try and make everyone in this country proud." Jackson said brighter news for his team was this week's signing of Fijian international lock Temo Mayanavanua on a two-season deal beginning next year. Mayanavanua has been a key figure for English club Northampton Saints, who are contesting this month's European Champions Cup final against French side Bordeaux Begles. "Someone like Temo brings a lot of experience, especially from the UK, around lineouts and what it means to be professional," Jackson said. "I believe in a year, in two years, with the right people in the building, we're going to be a quality team." dgi/dhc
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Fiji Rugby Player Dead In Car Crash In France
Fiji rugby player Josaia Raisuqe has died in a car crash in France, where he played for Top 14 side Castres Olympique. The 30-year-old was a member of the Fiji sevens side that won silver at last year's Paris Olympics. Local media reports said his car was struck by a train at a level crossing. The club, which he joined in 2021, expressed its sadness on Facebook and extended its condolences to his loved ones. The Fiji Drua also posted a tribute on social media, saying their hearts are heavy. "We lost more than a player - we lost a brother, a teammate and a true son of Fijian Rugby," it said. "Rest in peace, Jo. Your spirit will forever live on in the game and in our hearts." The Fiji Association of Sport & National Olympic Committee said it joined Castres and the wider rugby community in mourning the "immense loss". "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Josaia's family, loved ones, teammates and the grieving rugby fraternity both in Fiji and abroad. "Vinaka vakalevu for your contributions to Fijian sport."
