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SPORTS OPINION Islands Business

Pacific rugby stars face exploitation

By Ilaitia Turagabeci
SIRELI Temo grew up like the thousands
of Fijian children around the country do-
ing what he loved best - playing rugby
from the time he could grasp the oval ball.
Since his village primary school days,
high school at Laucala Bay Seconday
School and Suva Grammar, Temo had his
sights on a dream to one day represent
his country.
After playing for Nataisiri and the Fiji
Warriors, he was snapped up by the Heriot
Rugby Club in South Otago in New Zea-
land before moving to France.
Leaving behind his wife and two chil-
dren, he signed up with Montelimar in
south-eastern France.
Temo ended up in with Tarbes, a French
third-division team , where his rugby
career came to a tragic end on November,
2016. He was just 30.
He was found dead in his room, a victim
of depression and eventual suicide.
Before Fiji took on England at Twicken-
ham later that month, the Fijians observed
a minute of silence in honour of their Big risks
fallen brother.
Former Fiji coach Ilivasi Tabua, who
took Temo into one of his training camps
for the 2007 World Cup in which he took in rugby’s
Fiji to the quarter-final, told Islands Busi-
ness Temo’s was a sad and tragic case.
“A lot of the boys in France were af-
fected, particularly the guys who were
close to him. gold rush
“He was a very promising young
player as he came through the pathways
in school rugby and Fiji U20 program to
franchise rugby. The exciting thing is he
was a winger with speed who turned
into a prop/hooker. I took him with me to
Tonga for the inauguration of the King of The Beast ... blockbusting Fijian winger Josua Tuisova is among the 500 Pacific professional rugby players in
Tonga VX versus the Rest of the World XV. Europe. Photo: Toulon Rugby Club
What happened to him is sad, a lesson say that he was becoming increasingly Fiji team and now the Fijian defence coach
to everyone in rugby.” despondent. based out of Queensland, told Islands
Temo’s suicide is not an isolated case His wife said Temo was a caring man Business, Temo was a likeable character.
among rugby players from Fiji, Samoa and who put family first and looked out for all “He was quite a funny guy. Sometimes
Tonga who often fall prey to a distressing his relatives in Fiji. In the weeks leading up that can be a way to cover up your prob-
combination of cultural pressure and ruth- to his death, he sent emails to his friends lems.
less exploitation. asking to be prayed for. Former Melbourne That’s the problem with Fijian guys, they
No one truly knows exactly why the Storm wing Sisa Waqa posted on his of- never admit when they are in trouble.”
tragedy occurred. What is known is that ficial facebook page that Temo had been
Temo had suffered with injuries and was facing problems and had shared some of Continued overleaf
yet to play a match for Tarbes last season. them with the former NRL star. web link:
Those who had been in contact with him Mosese Rauluni, scrumhalf of the 2007 www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business October 2017 29