Days after playing a starring role for his new club in an upset season-opening win, a former All Blacks enforcer shared a heartbreaking update that his son had died.
Just days after playing for the Highlanders in their Super Rugby opener against the Crusaders Angus Ta'avao posted a montage of photos to announce his nine-year-old son Leo had "gained his angel wings" after a brief stint in the paediatric ICU.
"Leo passed away surrounded by his loved ones. You have left a giant Leo sized hole in our hearts darling, we will miss you so so much," he said.
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"Til we meet again our baby boy."
Leo was born with partial-trisomy-13, a genetic disorder which can cause developmental and physical delays. Leo spent the first three months of his life in hospital. Life expectancy of babies born with trisomy-13 is barely a year.
Ta'avao played 23 matches for the All Blacks, and is now a prop for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition – he scored a try in their 25-23 upset victory against the Crusaders in their season opener on Friday night.
Comments and tributes on the post came from several teammates, as well as the club and the All Black.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Kristyn and Georgie during this heartbreaking time. Rest in peace Leo," the Highlanders account posted.
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"Sending our thoughts, prayers and love to you and your whānau Angus," the All Blacks wrote.
In a 2018 interview, when Leo was only 14 months old, Ta'avao said his son was his inspiration both on and off the field.
"If I'm having a difficult day, seeing him makes it all better," Ta'avao told Stuff.
"The smile he gives us, gets me. It sounds so cliche, but when I see that, it melts my heart."
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