Rising rugby star dies in Fiji
Sudden death of young Kiwi player shocks his Poverty Bay clubmates
Arising rugby star who left his mark on several clubs around New Zealand has died in Fiji after being struck down by a sudden illness. Poverty Bay Rugby player Isaia Vuki lost his battle with the illness early yesterday. He was 24.
Vuki — nicknamed Izzy or Isa by friends — became a force to be reckoned with as he came up through the rugby ranks as a student at West Auckland’s Kelston Boys High before playing in the North Harbour under20s representative team as well as its senior sevens squad.
He also played at the 2013 Northland Fijian Sevens Tournament in Whangarei and later went on to represent the Marist Club in Whakatane.
In 2016, he turned out for the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union after being introduced to the club by coach Mutu Ngarimu.
“Everyone’s pretty shocked and devastated to hear the news,” Ngarimu told the Herald.
“We’re still not too sure what’s happened, but it’s come as a shock to a lot of the players and people who were involved with him — coaches and our management team back in 2016 and even last year when he was with the Poverty Bay Heartland team.
“We’re still trying to come to grips with it.”
That 2016 season proved to be a good one for the young player; who was named best back and became the top points-scorer that season.
“His ferocious tackling was also a feature as well as his kicking and running ability.”
Ngarimu said he first saw Vuki — who played in the number 10 jersey, as well as at fullback — while he was playing in Whakatane.
“As soon as we saw him, we knew he was a very talented player.
“Definitely a player with a huge amount of potential and ability. He was one of those guys who could’ve moved to a province and made that representative team as well.”
Several rugby clubs, schools and the NZ Fiji School Rugby Sevens group have all acknowledged Vuki’s passing in tributes on their websites.
Kelston Boys said that in his last year, 2012, Vuki made a lasting impression on teachers, staff and rugby coaches. “He demonstrated his rugby talents and speed on the rugby field.
“He was a popular member of the international student body, with his infectious smile and comic personality . . . Many fond memories.”
Ngarimu paid tribute to a young man who was as much a character off the field as he was on. “He was very funny and a likeable guy who [fitted] straight into the environment.”