Any comments on Pasikali’s cause of death cannot be made - FRU

The Fiji Rugby Union says the findings from the medical audit received on 20th March 2023 confirm that the late Pasikali Naevo was not in camp with the main Fijian Drua U20 team but had joined a training session from home on 23rd February 2023.

FRU says the training started at about 10.30am and was a non-contact session.

It says the late Pasikali Naevo had presented the need for assistance within 30 minutes of the start of the session and was given the due attention, before being rushed to the Namaka Health Centre.

FRU says it is unable to make any comments after the late Pasikali was referred to the Namaka Medical Centre as it was not in control of or aware of any medical treatment that he received.

FRU also understands that a post-mortem examination was not conducted, therefore, any comments on his cause of death cannot be made.

FRU says it was deeply saddened and shocked by the passing away of the late Naevo and had expressed its condolences and reguregu to his family at the funeral gathering at Nawaka Nadi on 2nd March 2023.

The late Pasikali was part of FRU’s academy and a member of its extended training squad of 52 players selected for the Fijian Drua U20 team which was due to participate at the Super Rugby U20 New Zealand competition.

On receipt of several reports, the FRU Board had asked the entire Fijian Drua U20 Team Management to stand down to allow a medical audit to be undertaken and to record their response during training and after the late Pasikali was rushed to the Namaka Health Centre.

The purpose of the medical audit was to review FRU’s standard operating procedures relating to a player joining the main squad was fully complied with.

As to social media comments on the Team Management continuing with the management of the Fijian Drua U20 team, FRU was disallowed by competition regulations to make any such changes and the medical audit did not express any adverse recommendations against the Team Management.

Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union’s Acting CEO, Sale Sorovaki, has met with members of the Naevo family.