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Super Rugby PacificWaratahs

Samoan rugby player dies after jumping off bridge in France

Kelly Meafua of the Waratahs competes at the lineout during the 2018 Global Tens match between the New South Wales Waratahs and the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on February 9, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

A Samoan ProD2 player has died after jumping from a bridge in France on Friday, Montauban have confirmed.

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32-year-old back row Kelly Meafua was reported to have jumped from a bridge after his side’s 48-40 win over Narbonne in the French second flight.

According to multiple witnesses, Meafua had been enjoying Montauban’s final home game of the season with his teammates before the former Waratahs player was seen jumping 22 meters from the Pont-Vieux bridge.

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      Prop Christopher Vaotoa, one of his teammates, jumped into the water in a bid to save the former Samoan Sevens star.

      Vaotoa was rescued by firefighters and sent to the hospital with hypothermia. Meafua’s body was discovered early Saturday morning.

      “USM Sapiac painfully announces the death of Kelly MEAFUA on the night of Friday to Saturday.

      “The 32-year-old fell in the Tarn in the early morning, and did not survive. One of his teammates tried to rescue him, without success. Transported to the hospital for hypothermia, he was released this morning in good health. All training is suspended until further notice.

      “The entire USM Sapiac club is shocked by this tragedy, and has a thought for his wife, his children, his teammates, and more generally, all club lovers. Kelly was a player very appreciated by all, his joie de vivre was infectious and radiant.

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      “Today we lost a player, a friend, a brother,” the club concluded in a statement.

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      RedWarriors 21 minutes ago
      How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

      I don’t think you understand how it works, and the ad hominem attack is tiresome although not suprizing from you.

      Rugby Laws are decided by the World Rugby Board. According to Owen Doyle (who would know) the board are divided on this issue. The next meeting is May and this Law will be on the agenda.

      Now its being pointed out to you that in all Law, the intention of the Law IS THE LAW.

      You may disagree (without any substantiation) that 5:3 was NOT the intention. But you are not doing that. You are pretending that the intention is not the law, and you are also pretending that the interpretation of this law is not in dispute when at best, you don’t know if it is or isnt.

      Do you accept that the interpretation of the law is key to how the law aapplies?

      If not we really have nothing further to discuss.

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      RedWarriors 35 minutes ago
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      Poorest team picked all year in terms of being disjointed. I did think Scarlets had a decent chance when I saw the Leinster team. Williams was excellent at 9 leveraging the lead. I don’t like singling out the ref but two mauls brought down inside the 5 metre line surely required a yellow. Persistant penalties near the Scarlets line illicited two warnings in a row and no yellows. And a couple of very very late hits on Byrne got ‘do that again and you’re booked’. I heard that was demoted after the Sharks Munster match earlier in the season. He is not the required standard. URC should use Holly D as the main Scottish ref.

      All that said Leinster still had it in them to win. The disjointed team and unforced errors was the last nail. Byrne’s intercept pass was typical of Leinster supplying the mistakes that Scarlets needed.

      I hope the errors don’t spread to the Knockouts team.

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      James_Peterson 50 minutes ago
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      Have you been cheated? Get in touch with Antonfasthack100 (at) gma!l. c o m

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      James_Peterson 52 minutes ago
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      GP 59 minutes ago
      Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

      The Crusaders are going SO well. I would suggest you are “one dimensional “ in your thinking. I get you are upset the Crusaders are “back”. The Highlanders beat us last year. When we were ravaged by injury.I am not “settling down “. PS Will Jordan is the best fullback in the world. Codie Taylor the best hooker, Ioane Moananu, an all Black hooker in waiting.

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      GP 1 hour ago
      Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

      Get over your self. You are so bitter. You stop your “drivel”.

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      RedWarriors 1 hour ago
      How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

      SA took every chance and needed to. If the TMO spots Arendse pushing Fickou in the back for his try. If the ref adjudicates the ball is not out when Etzebeth tacles Dupont. SA got every call, every bounce and needed it. Scoring freely? Nah, not so much.

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      RedWarriors 1 hour ago
      Leinster player ratings vs Scarlets | 2024/25 URC

      Nonsense. Leinster are already de facto guaranteed first place in league standings with two matches left!

      They beat Sharks full of Springboks in Durban with their C team. Their B team was beaten by a late penalty kick by Bulls (more Springboks laden) in Pretoria.

      You can’t blame Cullen for giving anyone who missed out a run against Scarlets?

      Not sure what the corelation is with the RWC.

      SA’s squad was cooked after the miracle QF match against France. England were far superior and were leading by 9 with 10 minutes to go until a couple of absolutely ridiculous penalties allowed SA the most luckiest of wins. No depth.

      In the final NZ with 14 were a match for SAs 15. No depth, needing badly that red card to have any chance. The secret sauce for SAs win in 2023 was luck.

      4 Go to comments
      R
      RedWarriors 1 hour ago
      How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

      Doyle says the Chairman the Board of World Rugby will find the board divided on the issue in the May meeting. Doyle correctly identifies the recent public statement by World Rugby management that there is no medical evidence to support that 7-1 splits etc are dangerous and therefore no reason to outlaw it as not in their remit. It is also a non sequiter as there may be other reasons to outlaw it principally the fact that 5-3 splits were the intention of the law.

      It is a matter for the board of World Rugby to come to a position on this and lets hope integrity prevails, every body accepts that the integrity of all Rugby Laws demands that the intention of these laws is not abused. Those wishing for 7-1 splits etc should go about it in the correct manner and seek law change to allow it. To answer Ed’s (ridiculous question) again, roughly half the World Rugby board dispute these splits under the law and this will arise at the May WR board meeting.

      No instead of disingeniously pulling hurdles out of yer respective backsides can you acknowledge that ‘Intention?’ is a relevant and faor question in this matter instead of pretending it isn’t just because that might contradict your article~?

      249 Go to comments
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      RedWarriors 2 hours ago
      How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

      No need for the xenophobic comment. I pointed out Rassie’s master plan was not responsible for the 2023 RWC win. They lost against Ireland, secured two pretty dodgy wins against France and England and needed a red card in ther final against a much stronger team on the day. That’s not master planning. Like some Saffers you take criticism right on the ego. You do understand Saffers attacking people for nationality, race etc is not acceptable?

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      What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

      Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

      MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

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      IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
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      Haha touche.. that was a while ago though!

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