The Fiji Rugby Union is deeply saddened and shocked by the passing away of Pasikali Naevo, who was a member of the Fijian Drua under-20 extended squad.
Naevo, 18, was part of FRU’s academy and was preparing to participate in the Super Rugby U20 New Zealand competition.
According to FRU, Naevo was not in camp with the main Fijian Drua U20 team, but had joined a training session from home on February 23.
“The training started at about 10.30am and was a non-contact session. Naevo had presented the need for assistance within 30 minutes of the start of the session and was given the due attention, before being rushed to the Namaka Health Centre,” FRU stated.
He was rushed to hospital from training on February 23, 2023, and later died on February 26, 2023.
The FRU board had asked the entire Fijian Drua U20 team management to stand down to allow a medical audit to be undertaken and to record their response during training and after the said player was rushed to the Namaka Health Centre.
“The purpose of the medical audit was to review FRU’s standard operating procedures (SOP) relating to a player joining the main squad was fully complied with,” FRU added.
FRU provides that it is unable to make any comments after the late Naevo was referred to the Namaka Medical Centre as it was not in control of or aware of any medical treatment that he received.
“FRU also understands that a post-mortem examination was not conducted, therefore, any comments to his cause of death cannot be made.
“As to social media comments on the team management continuing with the management of the Fijian Drua U20 team, FRU was disallowed by competition regulations to make any such changes and the medical audit did not express any adverse recommendations against the team management.
“To assist the players and the management team manage the psychological impact of the incident, a post-trauma counseling session was organised before the team left for New Zealand. FRU board will be looking at taking further statements from the team and team management now that they have returned from New Zealand.”
