Figure of the Olympic Castres (CO) in Top 14 and the Olympic Rugby Selection of Seven of his country, the winger Fijien Josaia Raisuqe died Thursday morning behind the wheel of his car, struck by a train, on the path between the training center and his home.
According to the prosecution of Castres (Tarn) and the club, the faithful, aged 30, died when his vehicle was struck by a train up to a level passage in the town of Saïx, where the co -cos are located. A driver and a train controller were evacuated, unharmed physically but in shock, according to the Tarn firefighters. No passenger was injured, according to this source.
A “Investigation in search of the causes of death” was immediately opened and entrusted to the local gendarmerie brigades, said the Public Prosecutor of Castres, Elodie Buguel, in a statement. The world of French rugby has expressed its shock. “The Castres Olympique is in mourning, wrote CO. He was a wonderful teammate, much appreciated by everyone, and Castrais supporters who had adopted it. “
The National League (LNR) expressed “The immense sadness” Tricolor rugby after this “tragic disappearance”, and added that it had immediately accessed Castres to postpone his top 14 match scheduled for Saturday at Clermont (2:30 p.m.).
Collision with a ter
The accident occurred “vers 8 h” Thursday morning and the player’s vehicle was struck “By a TER heading towards Toulouse with on board 21 passengers”, specified the public prosecutor of Castres. Josaia Raisuqe, according to the same source, “had just left the training center to get home to recover forgotten things” When the drama occurred.
According to “first testimonies collected”, “It appears that the vehicle would have crossed the security barriers and would have been struck by the locomotive”added Ms. 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)”according to the prosecutor’s press release.
-As for the samples (alcohol levels and narcotics) taken on the train driver, they proved to be negative. In addition to the postponement of the match against Clermont, the LNR announced that a tribute would be “returned to Josaia Raisuqe on all Top 14 and Pro D2 terrains this weekend”.
“Of course that we have an immense thought for the Castres Olympique, his family and him first”reacted at a press conference Laurent Thuéry, the assistant coach of the Toulouse stadium.
In the Olympic Games Fund for the Blues
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 VII Rugby team of the Fiji who had won the silver medal during the 2024 Olympics. The Fijians bowed in the final against the French led by Antoine Dupont.
The Castres Olympique is in mourning.
It was with the heavy heart that we learned of the death this morning in a road accident of our player Josaia Raisuqe.
We send our sincere condolences and thoughts to his family as well as to his loved ones.– Castres Olympique (@castresrugby) https://twitter.com/CastresRugby/status/1920422209710891389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The captain of the XV of France published on his Instagram account a black and white photo of Raisuqe struck with a heart. In March, the Fijian had engaged 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. Three other Fijians are part of the co -of -CO workforce, fifth in the championship and coached by Xavier Sadourny, including the second line Leone Nakarawa and the Vilimoni Center Bititus
