Experienced front rower Isaia Rasila will miss Fiji's opening Pool B match against France in Brisbane this Saturday after the death of his mother from a heart attack.
Fiji Team Media Liaison Officer Charlie Charters told Rugby News Service on Wednesday (8 October) that 34 year old Rasila, a former captain of Fiji, would leave Brisbane at midnight Wednesday on a flight to Nadi to be with his father and younger siblings near Sigatoka, 200km west of Suva.
Charters said Rasila, a veteran of the 1999 Tournament who can play either prop or hooker would return to the Fiji camp on the Gold Coast next Tuesday, 14 October, in time to be considered for the following day's match against the United States of America, also at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
"He was likely to be in the 22 for the France game; probably on the bench as the front row is pretty settled," Charters said.
"Knowing Isaia he will follow a basic training regime while he is back in Fiji, but it will be difficult as Fijian protocol means a funeral takes three to four days to complete."
Charters said apart from the Rasila departure, Fiji had a fully fit squad to choose from following number 8 Setareki Tawake’s recovery from a minor heal injury.
Fiji, which is looking to end its French hoodoo after losing all six matches to Les Bleus, including a 77-10 mauling two years ago, will announce its team to play France at 14:00 on Thursday afternoon.