{"id":336060,"date":"2023-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=336060"},"modified":"2023-10-04T01:00:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T01:00:37","slug":"horrific-world-cup-stars-son-dies-hours-before-kick-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=336060","title":{"rendered":"'Horrific': World Cup star's son dies hours before kick-off"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Josua Tuisova signed autographs and posed with fans after Fiji's<\/a> win over Georgia, fans were unaware of the agony behind his smile.<\/p>\n

Just hours before the Rugby World Cup<\/a> match in France, the Fijian centre was informed his seven-year-old son had died on the other side of the world after a long-term illness.<\/p>\n

The news was confirmed by Tuisova's father Isikeli Ratulevu who said the Flying Fijian would not be returning home for his son's funeral, which took place on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

After Fiji came from behind to beat Georgia, Tuisova won man of the match for his performance.<\/p>\n

\"Josua<\/p>\n

Fiji are on the cusp of making the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, pending the result of their final Pool C match against Portugal.<\/p>\n

"With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Tito Micgabraph Donzel Ratulevu," a statement from the family read.<\/p>\n

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"He is the son of Mr Josua Tuisova and Mrs Katarina Ladoge Ramoce.<\/p>\n

"Affectionately known as "Tito," he peacefully departed after a prolonged battle with a debilitating illness in Lautoka Hospital."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/SonnyBWilliams\/status\/1709263822609842379<\/a><\/p>\n

Ahead of Fiji's crunch match that will decide whether Australia will progress to the quarter-finals, coaches from Wales and Fiji kept their remarks brief.<\/p>\n

"Huge condolences from everyone involved in the Welsh national team," said Welsh forwards Jonathan Humphreys.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"It's a horrific situation. They have asked for it not to be discussed so we will do that."<\/p>\n

Simon Raiwalui, head coach of Fiji, added, "Josua has asked respectfully for that not to be discussed, so it won't be discussed."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1708648025797599544<\/a><\/p>\n

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams took to social media after a video of Tuisova post-match circulated online.<\/p>\n

"Man only just heard the news," he wrote.<\/p>\n

"My heart hurts for my Fijian brother. Sending love to you and your family. You are an inspiration to many around the world bro."<\/p>\n

A win or a losing bonus point will ensure Fiji progresses to the quarter-finals with Wales.<\/p>\n

It would mark just the third time Fiji has made it to the elimination stage of a Rugby World Cup after the 1987 and 2007 editions.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Josua Tuisova signed autographs and posed with fans after Fiji's win over Georgia, fans were unaware of the agony behind his smile. Just hours […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":336062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336060"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=336060"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":336063,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336060\/revisions\/336063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/336062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=336060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=336060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=336060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}