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Grieving Vaea Fifita traveling with All Blacks for Bledisloe Cup clash despite death of brother
All Blacks loose forward Vaea Fifita is traveling to Perth with the All Blacks for their Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies next weekend, despite the recent death of his younger brother, Alfred ‘AJ’ Mapa, in a river accident.
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News of Mapa’s passing circulated through American news outlets after he drowned in the Provo River in Utah last Saturday.
ABC News reported that deputies with the Utah Sheriff County’s Office said that Mapa had jumped from a bridge into the river, but never made it out.
His body was recovered more than three hours later by Search and Rescue crews.
Fifita posted an emotional tribute to his brother on Twitter earlier in the week, which read: “I can’t believe that you’re gone little brother. It hurts so much. You’ve been called by God to be with him. Although it’s tough and we are struggling to understand why you had to go so young but I know you’re in a better place. I miss you so much man.”
I can’t believe that you’re gone little brother?.It hurts so much. You’ve been called by God to be with him. Although it’s tough and we are struggling to understand why you had to go so young but I know you’re in a better place. I miss you so much man. RIP MY LIL BRO??#ourangel pic.twitter.com/4sJDp4GhnA
— Vaea Fifita (@VaeaFifita) July 28, 2019
The All Blacks squad left Auckland for the Western Australia capital on Saturday morning, and prior to departure, head coach Steve Hansen confirmed Fifita was still part of a reduced traveling side, which is without youngsters Luke Jacobson and train-on squad member Josh Ioane, both of whom have been ruled out after sustaining head knocks.
“Obviously you’ve all heard the news around Vaea,” Hansen said at Auckland airport. “It’s incredibly sad his brother passing. We pass on our condolences to his family but he is travelling and we’ll get round him.”
No replacement has been called in to take Jacobson’s place in the team, with Hansen admitting some concern regarding the 22-year-old’s constant concussion woes over the past couple of seasons.
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The former New Zealand U20 captain suffered a long-term concussion last year, which kept him sidelined until midway through this year’s Super Rugby campaign.
He also missed the last five games of the Chiefs’ season this year due to another head knock.
“We’ve got enough players,” Hansen said. “That’s why we took the big squad. Obviously there are concerns [about Jacobson]. It’s like all concussions, you’ve just got to take your time and when they’re ready to play and train you bring them back.”
Hansen said it was unknown how Jacobson’s head injury was sustained.
“We’re not sure with Lukey. He doesn’t recall anything, but he’s had a concussion before. It just may be a form that has decided to come back. We’ll take our time with him and get him sorted and go from there.”
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Ioane’s injury concern was a lot more clear-cut, however, with the 24-year-old playmaker picking up his head knock while playing for Otago in a pre-season Mitre 10 Cup clash against Tasman in Nelson on Friday night, a match his side lost 54-19.
Both players could rejoin the squad next week for the return Bledisloe Cup fixture in Auckland.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments