Ilaitia Savai (Nakalawaca, 12 July 1960 - Nadi 22 January 2015) was a Fijian rugby union player. He played as a lock.

Career

Savai made his debut for Fiji at the Suva National Stadium when he came in on the 40th minute as a substitute in the test against Australia. He played for Fiji from 1984 to 1995 earning 38 caps from 91 appearances. He was in the

1987 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...

and

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phil ...

Rugby World Cup rosters, playing 7 matches, scoring 4 points and 1 try. Savai also captained Fiji in the 1990 test against Japan, Tonga, Samoa and Hong Kong and later led the team to the tour of New Zealand in the same year. Under his captaincy, Fiji won three out of four tests. His last international cap was during a match against Canada, at Nadi, on April 8, 1995.

Death

Savai died on February 2, 2015.Rugby mournas a gentle giant
/ref> He was laid to rest at his village of Nakalawaca and is survived by his wife and three children. Among family and friends shocked to hear the news of his death, was former Fiji teammate

Mosese Taga Mosese Taga (17 September 1964 – 2 February 2022) was a Fijian rugby union player. Career He debuted with the Flying Fijians during the 1987 Rugby World Cup, during the match against New Zealand at Christchurch, on 27 May 1987. He was also par ...

References

External links

*
Ilaitia Savai at New Zealand Rugby History
Fiji international rugby union players Fijian rugby union players Rugby union players from Tailevu Province 1960 births 2015 deaths Rugby union locks Fijian expatriates in New Zealand Fijian expatriates in Australia I-Taukei Fijian people 1987 Rugby World Cup players 1991 Rugby World Cup players {{Fiji-rugbyunion-bio-stub