France star Virimi Vakatawa devastated by premature end to career

Jan 21, 2024

AFP-Jiji

Paris – France center Virimi Vakatawa said in an emotional news conference on Tuesday that it was hard to wake up and accept he would never train with his teammates again, having had to retire due to a heart defect.

The 30-year-old Fiji-born player's problem had surfaced prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the doctor from his Top 14 club Racing 92 Sylvain Blanchard revealed at the news conference.

Vakatawa — who sat alongside France head coach Fabien Galthie, Racing handler Laurent Travers and club owner Jacky Lorenzetti — said it was hard to come to terms with.

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