Former New Zealand and Fiji winger Joeli Vidiri has died aged 48, the All Blacks announced on Friday.
Vidiri made two appearances for the All Blacks in 1998 after representing Fiji in seven matches. However, he suffered from a kidney issue which prematurely ended his career in 2001 - and he even endured a 14-year wait for a kidney donor before finally undergoing transplant surgery in 2016.
Vidiri's death comes just one day after fellow New Zealand winger Va'aiga Tuigamala died at the age of 52.
“An incredibly sad day continues,” the All Blacks tweeted. “Another one of our brothers taken. You'd struggle to meet a nicer guy than Joeli Vidiri, not to mention his remarkable skills on the field.”
News of Vidiri’s death was announced on Sky Sports during the halftime break in the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Crusaders and Dunedin, which followed a poignant tribute to Tuigamala before kick-off.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson was shocked at the news of Vidiri's death.
“It's taken me back a bit,” he said. “I played with Joeli with the All Blacks and we roomed a couple of times, so I got to know him on that front. That's sad. Condolences to his family. That's two good men taken.”
An impressive physical athlete with pace and power in abundance, Vidiri played alongside All Blacks great Jonah Lomu in several appearances for Counties Manukau and the Blues.
“When he was at the peak of his career around the 1996-97 season there were no more awesome sights when he was in full flight than Joeli Vidiri,” his biography on the All Blacks website said.
“It is doubtful whether two more imposing figures have ever been together in any side. And especially in the 1996-97 seasons Vidiri was the more effective of the two.”
Vidiri made 71 appearances for Counties scoring 56 tries and played 62 games for the Blues scoring 43 tries.
He won a gold medal with the New Zealand team in sevens rugby at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
