Josua Tuisova, man of the match in Fiji’s surprising World Cup win over Australia, did not attend his seven-year-old son’s funeral today, preferring to stay with his teammates in France. The local media reported it. The 29-year-old Fijian center learned of his son Tito’s death from his father Isikeli Ratulevu shortly before the match against Georgia last Saturday, in which Tuisova was one of the best on the pitch, helping his team overturn a 9-0 deficit at halftime achieving a 17-12 victory, despite an injury during the final stages of the match. The Pacific Islanders now need just one point in their final Pool C match against Portugal on Sunday to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007, and in this case at the expense of two-time champions Australia. world, so far never eliminated already in the group stage of the World Cup. Tuisova, who scored a try against the Wallabies, is believed to be crucial for Fiji in their likely quarter-final meeting with England, who were beaten for the first time by the Fijians at Twickenham in August.
«With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of our beloved Tito Micgabraph Donzel Ratulevu – the note released by the Fiji federugby -. He is the son of Josua Tuisova and Katarina Ladoge Ramoce. Known affectionately as ‘Tito’, he passed away peacefully after a long battle with a debilitating illness in Lautoka hospital.” Today Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui responded to a question on this matter at a press conference and responded that ” “It’s a private matter, I’ll say that right now. Jos has respectfully asked that we not discuss it but keep it private, and I respect his wish.”