Sam Matavesi

Assistant coach Seremaia Bai says the team received the news this morning and their senior player, Sam, is now with his family in England.

Sireli Matavesi played rugby for Cornwall and Camborne after staying in the county following a tour rugby to the United Kingdom in 1985 and worked as a miner.

The Flying Fijians and Fiji Rugby Union say their thoughts are with the family and send their deepest condolences.

Bai also says it’s not confirmed whether Sam Matavesi will make the side for the quarterfinal against England

The club say the 29-year-old's new deal will see him stay "for the 2021-22 season and beyond".

Matavesi has made 27 appearances for Saints since joining them from Championship club Cornish Pirates in 2019, scoring three tries.

"We've been thrilled with his development since he joined the club," said director of rugby Chris Boyd.

"We have an exciting crop of hookers in our squad who are all pushing each other to improve every day, and Sam has taken his opportunity in recent months and performed well as a starter."

The hooker, who plays for Cornish Pirates in the English Championship, started for the Fijians in their matches versus Australia, Georgia and Wales and came off the bench in their other pool game versus Uruguay at the finals in Japan. 

It capped an incredible year so far for Matavesi, who also featured for Toulouse this year as a short-term medical cover signing towards the end of the Top 14 season. 

However, the 27-year-old has now taken to social media in the hope that some treasured possessions collected in Japan can be returned to him.