Ilaitia Savai

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

Ilaitia Savai

Date of birth	(1960-07-12)12 July 1960
Place of birth	Nakalawaca, Tailevu Fiji
Date of death	22 January 2015(2015-01-22) (aged 54)
Place of death	Nadi, Fiji
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	242 lb (110 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1986-1987 Hamilton Marist () 1987-1989 Redcliffe[1] () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1981-1982 Hyatt () 1982-1986 Nadroga () 1989-1990 Suva () 1990-1998 Nadi () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1986-1987 Waikato[2] 25 (8) 1987-1989 Queensland () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1984-1995 Fiji 38 (26)

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 and 1991 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.^[3] His last international cap was during a match against Canada, at Nadi, on April 8, 1995.

Death

Savai died on February 2, 2015.^[4] 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.

References

1. "Pasifika Round Match Day Program" (PDF). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
2. A gentle giant that was Ilaitia Savai
3. Obituary – Mr Ilaitia Savai
4. Rugby mournas a gentle giant

External links

• Ilaitia Savai at ESPNscrum
• Ilaitia Savai at New Zealand Rugby History