Ex-7s rep found dead inside his car
Former national sevens winger Akuila Nawerecagi, 39, was found dead in his vehicle below a bend on a road between Mercurey and Couches, in Eastern France.
His former club Pau made the announcement on Monday on its website.
According to “le journal de Saône-et-Loire”, the former player (Ratu Akuila Nacolaiviu Nawerecagi) had been missing since the night of Thursday to Friday after leaving his home.
It was seeing the player’s children were left alone at their mother’s place of residence in Saône-et-Loire that a neighbour alerted the Police.
His car was found in an accident late Saturday afternoon by a motorist below departmental road 978.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the player lost control of his vehicle due to thick fog in the region where he settled at the end of his career in 2014.
Originally from Nabutautau, Navatusila in the interior of Navosa, Nawerecagi played for Monfort Boys Town Under-19 in the 2003 Deans before joining the Marist club for the Suva rugby competition the following year. He has maternal links to Nataladrau in Naitasiri.
He represented Fijian in the first leg of the 2005 to 2006 IRB series when Fiji won the George 7s and played alongside Emosi Vucago, Setafano Cakau, Taniela Rawaqa, Tomasi Mawi, Iliesa Ratuva, Epeli Vuniwaqa, Marika Vunibaka and Nemani Nanuku.
Nawerecagi played club rugby in South Africa with the Sharks and Valke (2006-2008). He then joined Lons-le-Saunier (2008-2009), before wearing the colours of Pau for three seasons in Pro D2 (2009-2012).
He retired from playing in 2014.