Fiji’s hooker Sam Matavesi is still expected to face England this weekend despite having dashed back to Cornwall to be with his family following the death of his father, Sireli. Matavesi, who plays his club rugby for Northampton, is a key member of his country’s pack and his absence would be an untimely setback ahead of Fiji’s first Rugby World Cup quarter-final for 16 years.
It is the second family bereavement to affect the Fijian squad at this World Cup, following the death last month, after a long illness, of Josua Tuisova’s seven-year-old son, Tito. Tuisova missed his son’s funeral in order to stay with the squad and the Fijian management say they have not ruled Matavesi out of Sunday’s fixture.
