The country’s rugby fraternity mourns the passing away of former Flying Fijians and Naitasiri star centre, Ratu Emori Tuisese.

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, Naitasiri Under-20 rugby head coach, Lasarusa Senibale, said Ratu Emori, was one who always supported the domestic rugby competition.

“Ratu Emori attended Marist Brothers High School and was selected to the Fiji Secondary Schools rugby team that toured New Zealand in 1987,” Senibale recalled.

The Fiji Secondary Schools rugby team was captained by Ilaitia Kurucake of Queen Victoria School. The squad included Ratu Emori’s younger brother Ratu Waisake Tuisese, Kalaveti Naisoro, Apisai Mucunabitu, Semisi Dakuyaco, Shane Pickering, Bruce Ferguson and so on.

“During that tour, Ratu Emori was playing at hooker. It was only when he played for Naitasiri, that he was moved to centre,” Senibale said.

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Ratu Emori played at centre for Naitasiri when they won the INKK Mobile Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy for the first time after they beat Nadroga at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, in 1998.

He also starred for Naitasiri when they hoisted the country provincial rugby championship title (now known as the Skipper Cup) for many years.

“Ratu Emori will be missed by all,” Senibale said.

At the time of his death, he was a senior Police officer at the Mobile Command Unit. He’ll be buried tomorrow in his village of Serea in Naitasiri.

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