Filipo Daugunu displayed remarkable sportsmanship during a Super Rugby Pacific match by prioritizing the safety of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who suffered a head injury. Daugunu remained by Suaalii's side until medical personnel arrived, emphasizing the importance of player safety over the game itself.
Suaalii, after being taken off the field in a neck brace, was able to return home with his parents. Subsequent scans revealed an undisplaced fracture in his jaw, ending his Super Rugby season but not his involvement in the Wallabies' series against the British and Irish Lions.
Both Suaalii and his parents expressed gratitude to Daugunu for his actions. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar also praised Daugunu's sportsmanship, highlighting the humanity involved in a high-stakes physical contest. The incident emphasized the importance of player well-being even in a highly competitive environment.
Daugunu has played enough rugby, from his early days in Fiji to his time with the Rebels and Reds, to understand the risks involved in head injuries. Rejoining play never entered his mind until he knew Suaalii was in safe hands.
“The safety [of the player] is more important,” Daugunu said. “After the game, you’re going to go back to your family. I knew his family would worry about him, because of what happened on the field, so I stayed.”
After being taken off the field in a neck brace, Suaalii was able to return home with his parents after the game.
On Monday, further scans revealed an “undisplaced fracture” in Suaalii’s jaw that will end his Super Rugby season, but not his involvement in the Wallabies’ marquee series against the British and Irish Lions.
After the game, Suaalii and his parents contacted Daugunu separately to thank him for his actions on the field.
On Thursday, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was pleased to see Suaalii already back working in the gym, and praised Daugunu for his sportsmanship.
“Enormous respect and gratitude towards Filipo Daugunu there,” McKellar said. “I spoke to Joseph’s parents on Saturday, and they were keen to get in touch with him, and it says a lot about him
“We go hammer and tong, and it’s a physical contest for 80 minutes Certainly it was physical on Friday night, but at the end of the day, we’re all human beings and no one wants to see anyone injured, and the boys certainly appreciate that and no one more so than Joseph and his family.”
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The Waratahs’ final home game of the season against the Crusaders will also serve as a farewell for several players who are departing at the end of the season, including Rob Leota, Langi Gleeson, Hugh Sinclair and Mahe Vailanu from the match squad and Julian Heaven and Felix Kalapu.
The Waratahs must win on Friday to retain a slim chance of playing in the finals, after successive defeats to the Brumbies and Reds.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match, live and on demand.
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