Fijian winger of Castres Olympique (Top 14) Josaia Raisuqe died Thursday morning in a car accident, we learned from the club, whose Saturday’s match against Clermont was postponed. The 30 -year -old Fijian died behind the wheel of his vehicle, struck by a train up to a level crossing in the town of Saïx, where the CO training center is located. A driver and a train controller were evacuated, unharmed physically but in shock, according to the Tarn firefighters. No passenger on the train was injured, according to the same source.
The accident occurred “Around 8 am” this Thursday when the player’s vehicle was struck “By a TER heading towards Toulouse with on board 21 passengers”said the Public Prosecutor of Castres, Elodie Buguel, in a press release. Josaia Raisuqe, “Had just left the training center to get home to recover forgotten things” When the drama occurred.
A “Investigation in search of the causes of death” was immediately opened and entrusted to the local gendarmerie brigades. According to the first testimonies collected, “It appears that the vehicle would have crossed the security barriers and would have been struck by the locomotive”added Elodie Buguel.
Investigations “Techniques and scientific” were made “In particular to determine the exact circumstances of the collision (entry of data from the black box of the train, investigation on the proper functioning of the level passage)”. As for the samples (alcohol levels and narcotics) taken on the train driver, they proved to be negative.
“The Castres Olympique is in mourning”wrote the Tarnais club in a press release. “It was a wonderful teammate, much appreciated by everyone, and Castres supporters who had adopted it”added the CO. The National League (LNR) has expressed “The immense sadness” of French rugby to the announcement of this “Tragic disappearance”and added that she had access to the request of Castres to postpone his top 14 match scheduled for Saturday at home against Clermont (2:30 p.m.). “A tribute will be paid to Josaia Raisuqe on all Top 14 and Prod2 terrains this weekend”also said the LNR.
Raisuqe had joined Castres in 2021 after having passed through the Stade Français (2015-2017) then by Nevers, in Pro D2 (2017-2021). This season, he had taken part in seven games, including the last against Toulouse at the end of April. He was also part of the Rugby team in VII of Fiji who had won the silver medal at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games. The Fijians bowed in the final against the French led by Antoine Dupont.
In March, Raisuqe was committed with Brive, currently in Pro D2, for the next two seasons. “It was a boy radiating on and off the field which was a pillar of the Fijian community that we have at the club and to which we are very attached”underlined Pierre-Yves Revol, the boss of the CO quoted in the press release, who adds that the club will not “No other comments”.
Three other Fijians are part of the club’s workforce, fifth in the championship and coached by Xavier Sadourny, including the second-line Leone Nakarawa and the Vilimoni Botitant center. “Difficult also in this moment not to evoke the faith of all these players and Josaia. She goes, beyond pain, help them in this moment so difficult for all ”adds the club president. Castres also said that day training was canceled.
Update at 5:45 p.m. with the opening of an investigation.
