Heat claims Fijian rugby player during training in Japan

Saimoni Vuniragi, a 26-year-old Fijian rugby player competing in Japan's second-division league, died of heatstroke at a hospital in Fukuoka on Friday morning, Japanese media including Sponichi Annex reported Saturday.

According to his club, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex, Vuniragi had recently transferred from first-division side Tokyo SG and joined the team on July 23. He stood 196 centimeters tall and weighed 117 kilograms, playing as a lock forward.

The team began practice at a Fukuoka stadium at 4:50 p.m. Monday. The city's high temperature that day reached 36.9 degrees Celsius, with a heatstroke alert in effect.

After completing a running drill, Vuniragi was seen staggering, prompting the team to halt practice immediately. Medical staff administered fluids and applied ice packs. He was initially able to respond to questions but soon lost consciousness and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the city.

Doctors informed the club that heatstroke was the cause of death.

Kyuden Voltex suspended all training after an indoor session on Wednesday.