Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli force of five vehicles is advancing towards Saraya Rasem al-Halabi in the central Quneitra countryside, southern Syria
Baghaei to Al Mayadeen: The core of these factions is the Israeli occupation entity, which seeks to keep the region in a state of continuous war
Al-Qassam Brigades: Resistance fighters inflicted casualties on Israeli forces and closely monitored helicopter evacuation operations
Al-Qassam Brigades: Resistance fighters targeted three Israeli vehicles using two Shawaz explosive devices and a tandem RPG, before confronting another Israeli force
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Five martyrs reported in the Israeli bombing of al-Hasayna School in al-Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: It is clear to any observer that US lawmakers are increasingly influenced by factions opposed to diplomacy
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: We believe that a strong region consists of strong, reconciled, and united countries; based on this, we extend our hand to all our neighbors
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: Iran considers its neighbors highly important, with regional security remaining a strategic priority
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: US' insistence on completely halting Iran’s uranium enrichment raises questions about their true intentions
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: We can't reach any real outcome in the talks if the positions keep changing and contradicting each other

Samoan rugby player Kelly Meafua plunges to his death

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 May 2022 12:41
2 Min Read

Meafua’s team Montauban is shocked by the death of the player who jumped into the river Tarn in France celebrating his team’s win.

  • x
  • Kelly Meafua, a Samoan back-row forward
    Kelly Meafua, a Samoan back-row forward

A rugby club has been left traumatized by the death of Samoan back row forward Kelly Meafua who died after jumping from a bridge into the river Tarn, hours following a game in a French second division match.

Meafua’s club Montauban confirmed the 32-year-old had not survived the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning despite his teammate’s efforts to save him.

Samoan rugby star Kelly Meafua dies aged 32 after jumping 20 metres from bridge https://t.co/Wpi2TM3Mx0 pic.twitter.com/mkK5fhialF

— Mirror Sport (@MirrorSport) May 9, 2022

The teammate, named as prop Christopher Vaotoa in French media reports, jumped into the water but was unable to save Meafua.

Vaotoa was rushed to the hospital suffering from hypothermia and was discharged in good health on Saturday.

The pair had reportedly been out celebrating Montauban’s 48-40 win over Narbonne just hours earlier in the team’s final home Pro D2 game of the season at Stade Sapiac.

Montauban said the club was in shock following Meafua’s death.

“The entire club is shocked and everyone is thinking of his wife, his children, his teammates and more generally everyone who loves the club,” a club statement read.

“Kelly was a player who was well liked by everybody. His joy for life was infectious and radiant. Today we have lost a player, a friend and a brother.”

Who is Meafua?

Born in Samoa, Meafua moved to New Zealand when he was a teenager but did not start playing rugby until he was 20.

After stints with Otahuhu, Auckland Under–21s and Auckland Sevens, he moved to Sydney where he played for West Harbour in the Shute Shield and the Greater Sydney Rams.

He was also a member of the NSW Waratahs extended training squad in 2014 before leaving for France to play for Narbonne in 2015. He had a spell with Beziers before moving to Montauban last year.

This season he played 24 Pro D2 matches and scored eight tries for Montauban.

  • Meafua
  • Rugby
  • Montauban

Most Read

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) poses with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the UK-EU Summit at Lancaster House in London on May 19, 2025. (Pool/AFP)
US & Canada

UK, EU reset post-Brexit relations with defense and trade pact

Vice President JD Vance, right, and his wife Usha attend Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, May 18, 2025 (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
US & Canada

Axios: Vance scraps 'Israel' visit over new operation in Gaza

''Israel' resumed Gaza aid', says Netanyahu amid full invasion calls
Politics

Netanyahu: We are going to take over all of Gaza

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, center, after a meeting, Jakarta, Indonesia on August 1, 2017 (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Europe

Telegram’s Durov says France sought to censor Romanian conservatives

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS