Connect with us

Sports

Rugby Player Dies of Suspected Heatstroke Aged 26

Published

on


Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi has died of suspected heatstroke following a training session in Japan.

Vunilagi was hospitalised earlier this week after developing severe symptoms following a training session in soaring temperatures.

In the southern city of Fukuoka, temperatures reached 35 degrees. Last year, Japan endured its hottest summer on record and parts of the country have reached 40 degrees in recent weeks. Around 18,000 people were hospitalised for heatstroke in July, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, per the fire and disaster management agency. The Asian country experiences around 1,300 heat-related deaths per year and aims to reduce that number by half by 2030.

Vunilagi’s club Kyuden Voltex said the 26-year-old died on Friday, August 7.

Saimoni Vunilagi’s Club Kyuden Voltex Announce Death

Kingston Park

Following the tragic passing of Vunilagi, the team issued a statement.

The Japanese second division side said his death had left players and club staff ‘devastated’.

It read: “After team practice on Monday, 3 August 2026, Saimoni displayed symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke. He was transported to a medical facility for treatment, but despite the best efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away.

“The players, staff, and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news.

“Although Saimoni had only recently joined Kyushu KV, his generous spirit and powerful style of play had raised high hopes for his contributions in the upcoming season.

“We humbly pray for the repose of his soul and extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.

“At this time of profound grief, we respectfully ask the family be granted space and privacy.”

Further details surrounding the circumstances of his death have yet to be disclosed.

Japan Rugby League One Issue Statement After Death of Saimoni Vunilagi

Wales Rugby Union CARDIFF, WALES – APRIL 10: Detailed view of the Rugby ball bearing the WRU logo on ahead of the Women’s Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on April 10, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Japan Rugby League One also posted a statement in the wake of Vunilagi’s passing.

They said: “We express our heartfelt condolences upon receiving the news of the passing of Saimoni. We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and all those involved.”

Vunilagi joined Kyuden Voltex last month, having previously played for Japanese Rugby League One team Tokyo Sungoliath.

The towering back rower was born in Fiji but spent several years developing his career in Japan after completing schooling in New Zealand, before turning professional in 2003.

He attended Daito Bunka University in Tokyo and graduated in 2023 before joining Sungoliath. He made three senior appearances for the club before moving to Kyuden Voltex during the 2026 offseason.

The rugby community is in mourning as a minute’s silence was observed before the Japan vs Australia Test match in Osaka on Saturday.

Vunilagi’s former teammates Kanji Shimokawa and Naoto Saito both started for Japan.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Footage of Him Cheating During Round of Golf

Published

on

By


While Donald Trump is an avid golfer, he’s also been accused of being a cheat.

Now, shock footage has emerged that appears to catch Trump red-handed when it comes to bending the rules around the golf course to his advantage.

Donald Trump’s relationship with golf dates back to attending Fordham University in 1964. It was there that the love affair began.

He’s gone on to own and develop a number of courses and plays regularly, even as president. He even released a book all about golf, sharing tips from some of the world’s top professionals and teachers on how to “think your game better, when to swing hard, and how to foster a love of the game that will transcend setbacks.”

Donald Trump Playing Golf Mike Stobe/Getty Images

In it, Trump writes: “For me and millions of people – men, women, young and old around the world – golf is more than a game. It is a passion.”

But while that love is not in question, Trump’s actual ability on the golf course is.

Donald Trump’s Golfing Ability Constantly Questioned

Several big sports stars, including England captain Harry Kane, UFC star Bo Nickal, and even golf legend Tiger Woods have all spoken positively of Trump’s golfing ability. However, others claim that the business mogul-turned-president regularly cheats when out on the course.

Sportswriter Rick Reilly wrote a whole book on how Trump cheats at golf. This included an anecdote, citing golfing icon Gary Player, who, when told by Trump he’d won 18 championships, replied: “I told him that if anyone beats him, he kicks them out. So, he had to win.”

It goes further than that, though, with Reilly writing: “Trump doesn’t just cheat at golf. He throws it, boots it, and moves fit. He lies about his lies. He fudges and foozles and fluffs. At Winged Foot, where Trump is a member, the caddies got so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway they came up with a nickname for him: ‘Pele’.

Even the late US senator Lindsey Graham suggested that while some say you might outdrive Trump, “you’re not going to outdrive his caddy.” And now, footage has emerged appearing to prove Graham’s point.

The footage, that was originally posted last year but has since resurfaced on social media, shows Trump pulling up to a bunker in a buggy.

He’s flanked by two caddies, one of which is dressed in blue who, while walking, uses the natural back and forth of his arms to effortlessly drop a golf ball behind him without breaking stride. The clip is only 11 seconds long, with it not clear if Trump does then play the dropped ball, but it still appears to be pretty damning, with the president looking as if he’s about to set himself with it for his next shot.

The original post, shared in July 2025, has 2.2 million views with the caption reading: “Trump’s caddie was caught dropping a ball in the rough for him. USA taxpayers paying $20 million for a Scotland trip, so that Trump can score cheat at his golf.”

The re-shared post has already amassed a further 1.1 million views itself.

Continue Reading

Sports

Turkish Journalist Arrested For False Jamal Musiala to Galatasaray Claim

Published

on

By


In one of the strangest news stories of the summer, a Turkish sports journalist has reportedly been arrested for his claims involving Jamal Musiala.

The summer transfer window is often referred to as the silly season for the many wild rumours that appear, linking players to clubs in unlikely moves that never happen. Although every now and then, an unexpected deal is completed with eye-watering amounts of money involved.

One interesting rumour, for example, has seen Bayern Munich star Musiala linked with Turkish club Galatasaray. However, claims made around that potential transfer have sparked some very real legal issues for one journalist.

Jamal Musiala Transfer Rumours Lead to Arrest

Jamal Musiala

According to reports in Turkey, journalist Burhan Can Terzi has been detained after claiming that German midfielder Musiala would move this summer in a transfer from Bayern to Galatasaray. His arrest was made on alleged charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information.”

Terzi, who covers football as a reporter in İstanbul, is said to have been detained in an investigation launched by İstanbul’s Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. His legal issues came after Galatasaray denied the truth of his claims.

Despite the Turkish club rubbishing the report, Terzi refused to back down and reportedly responded: “I’m putting my life on the line [for this story].” It’s said that Galatasaray have not lodged any official complaint, but fans accused him of misleading the public, with the journalist continuing to make false statements.

After those complaints from football supporters, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation. Eye-opening footage has now emerged online, as it appears to show Terzi being led away by local police enforcement.

Turkish Journalist Arrested as Galatasaray Statement Denies Transfer Claim

Terzi is said to have made the initial report on 26 July. Galatasaray then moved to deny the report five days later. Without directly naming any journalist, they completely dismissed any claims relating to a transfer between Musiala and Galatasaray as “an attempt to create a perception aimed at discrediting our club’s transfer operations.”

A statement from the Turkish giants read:

“Due to the deliberate circulation of false and misleading reports about our club in recent days, we find it necessary to issue the following statement to inform the public that the ‘Jamal Musiala is set to transfer to Galatasaray’ reports are completely unfounded.

“It is also noteworthy that the individuals and platforms responsible for these speculations were behind similar false claims during the previous season.”

The case marks the first time the disinformation law has been applied to sports reporting.

Continue Reading

Sports

What CM Punk and Kevin Owens Said to Each Other During SmackDown Segment

Published

on

By


A brief off-mic exchange between CM Punk and Kevin Owens on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown has added another layer of intensity to what is likely to become one of WWE’s most compelling rivalries.

Now, a video posted on X is doing the rounds showing exactly what was said between the two Superstars in the middle of the ring when they weren’t talking directly down the microphone to those in attendance and those watching on TV around the world.

The video captures the two wrestlers engaged in a heated conversation, with the tension between them appearing unmistakably personal. What makes the clip particularly intriguing, however, is that the exchange takes place away from the polished presentation of a traditional wrestling promo, giving fans a glimpse of the animosity that exists beneath the scripted spectacle.

Kevin Owens Returns to Set Up CM Punk Feud

The timing could hardly be more significant. Kevin Owens recently returned to WWE after a lengthy absence and immediately established himself as the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. His victory at SummerSlam set up a championship match against CM Punk, who had recently returned himself and reclaimed the WWE Championship.

Their confrontation on SmackDown made clear that this will not be an ordinary title feud. Owens questioned Punk’s character and suggested that the champion had not genuinely changed. Punk, in turn, reminded Owens of his own accomplishments and argued that wrestlers such as him had benefitted from the path he helped create. The exchange eventually became physical before WWE personnel intervened.

Kevin Owens & CM Punk Screenshot via X

The off-mic footage, therefore, carries additional weight. Fans are accustomed to wrestlers trading insults during televised promos, but moments that appear less rehearsed can make a rivalry feel considerably more authentic.

Punk and Owens have also acknowledged over the years that they are not particularly close. Owens previously described the pair as not being friends and said they were simply not each other’s type of people.

That history gives their current storyline an unusual foundation. Rather than manufacturing hostility from scratch, WWE can draw upon years of tension and mutual distrust. The result is a feud that feels less like a conventional good-versus-evil story and more like two strong personalities finally being placed on a collision course.

The viral video may be short, but it reinforces an important point: CM Punk versus Kevin Owens has the potential to become one of WWE’s most genuinely heated rivalries. With the WWE Championship at stake, personal history in the background, and both men seemingly unwilling to back down, their eventual showdown promises to be far more than a title match.

Continue Reading

Trending