A 26-year-old Fijian rugby player, Saimoni Vunilagi, has died in Japan after developing symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke following a team training session.
Vunilagi was taken to a hospital in Fukuoka on Monday, August 3, after training with Japanese second-division club Kyushu KV, according to a statement from the club. He died on Friday, August 7.
Temperatures in Fukuoka reached 35°C on the day of the training session, with Japan experiencing an intense spell of summer heat.
Kyushu KV confirmed Vunilagi’s death in a statement on Saturday, describing the news as a devastating loss to the club.
“The players, staff and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news,” the club said.
The club added that although Vunilagi had only recently joined the team, his character and performances had generated strong expectations ahead of the upcoming season.
“We humbly pray for the repose of his soul and extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family,” Kyushu KV said.
Vunilagi was a back-row forward who stood 1.96 metres tall and weighed 117 kilogrammes. He had attended university in Japan before beginning his professional rugby career in 2023.
His death comes amid a period of extreme heat across Japan, where temperatures have reached 40°C in some areas in recent weeks.
According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, nearly 18,600 people were taken to hospital for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, while 45 people were pronounced dead on arrival during that period.
Japan has also recorded increasingly severe heat conditions in recent years. The country recorded its highest temperature on record, 41.8°C, in Isesaki on August 5, 2025.
Vunilagi’s death has drawn renewed attention to the risks faced by athletes training and competing in extreme heat, particularly during Japan’s summer months.
The circumstances surrounding his death were reported by AFP, citing his club’s statement.
