‘We will miss you’: Former Waratahs forward Kelly Meafua dead at 31

Former Waratahs forward Kelly Meafua has died hours after his side’s victory in the French second division on Friday.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 07, 2014, shows Kelly Meafua (C) of Samoa is tackled by Biko Adema (L) and Patrice Agunda of Kenya in their pool match during the New Zealand rugby Sevens in Wellington. - Samoan back row forward Kelly Meafua died on May 6, 2022, night after jumping from a bridge into the river Tarn, AFP learned from a source close to his club Montauban, confirming reports in La Depeche du Midi. Earlier in the evening, the 31-year-old had played in his side's 48-40 win over Narbonne in the French second division. According to several testimonies, Meafua had been celebrating with his teammates their last home game of the season in a downtown nightclub before he was seen jumping from the Pont-Vieux. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

Former Waratahs forward Kelly Meafua has died after jumping from a bridge into the river Tarn in France in what appears to be a horrific accident during an evening of festivities, his club Montauban confirmed on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Samoan athlete had played in his side’s 48-40 win over Narbonne in the French second division on Friday before the tragedy occurred that evening.

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According to several testimonies, Meafua had been celebrating Montauban’s last home game of the season with his teammates before he was seen jumping from the Pont-Vieux, a height of 22 metres. It is not believed to have been a suicide attempt.

One of his teammates, prop Christopher Vaotoa, jumped into the water to help him.

Rescued by firefighters, Vaotoa was taken to hospital with hypothermia before Meafua’s body was found early Saturday morning.

“USM Sapiac painfully announces the death of Kelly Meafua on the night of Friday to Saturday. One of his teammates tried to rescue him, without success,” the club said in a statement.

“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.

“Today we lost a player, a friend, a brother.”

Kelly Meafua of Otahuhu in 2014. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

After moving to Sydney, Meafua played for West Harbour in the Shute Shield and the Greater Sydney Rams in the National Rugby Championship.

He also represented the Waratahs in the Global Tens tournament in 2018, but never played a Super Rugby game for the NSW club.

Meafua played Sevens for Samoa and first came to France to play for Narbonne in 2015. He returned to play for Beziers in 2018 before switching to Montauban last season.

This season he had played 24 matches in Pro2, scoring eight tries.

All Blacks prop Karl Tu’inukuafe, who played alongside Meafua at Narbonne, posted a tribute on his Instagram page.

“We will miss you my uso,” he posted.

West Harbour posted to Instagram: “Kelly played for the Pirates for many years and was renowned for his hard hitting abrasive play. Jelly was a former winner of the Shield Shield rookie of the year and spent time at the Waratahs before forging a successful career in France. RIP Uso.”

The Waratahs also paid tribute on Twitter: “We are shocked and saddened by the news coming out of France today. Our thoughts are with the Meafua family.”

– with AFP and the NZ Herald

Originally published as ‘We will miss you’: Former Waratahs forward Kelly Meafua dead at 31