Samoan rugby star Kelly Meafua has died after reportedly leaping off a bridge in southwestern France, his membership mentioned. Montauban, a membership in France's second division, mentioned in a press release over the weekend that the 31-year-old participant died within the early hours of Saturday after a fall within the Tarn river.
In response to media studies in France, Meafu jumped off the bridge after an evening out with buddies to rejoice a victory. CNN reported that simply hours earlier, his crew had earned a 48-40 victory over Narbonne.
Montauban mentioned certainly one of Meafu's teammates "tried to rescue him, with out success." That participant needed to be transported to a hospital, the place he was handled for hypothermia.
"Kelly was a participant who was properly favored by everyone. His pleasure for all times was infectious and radiant. Immediately we've got misplaced a participant, a good friend and a brother," the membership mentioned in a press release.
The previous Samoa sevens participant moved to France in 2015 to play with Narbonne earlier than a return to the southern hemisphere. He moved again to France's second division in 2018 with Beziers, then signed with Montauban.
In its assertion, the crew mentioned it's "shocked by this tragedy, and [is thinking of] his spouse, his kids, his teammates, and extra typically, all of the membership's followers."
The membership mentioned it had indefinitely suspended coaching.
