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more »Promising Fijian killed in Afghanistan
The first British Army soldier killed in Afghanistan this year was a Fijian who played for the army's Sevens team, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Monday.
Private Joseva Vatubua, 24, was killed on New Year's Day by an improvised explosive device as he targeted enemy firing positions in the restive southern Helmand province.
Born in Fiji's capital Suva, he joined the British Army in 2007 and was one of the stars of his battalion's rugby team, which won the 2010 Army Community Shield, the MoD said.
Tipped to rise the military ranks, he had also recently begun representing the British Army at Sevens.
Fijian colleagues said he had tried out for the island nation's Under-21s.
"His scale was colossal; he dominated the front row, dwarfed his machine gun and delivered fiery, martial passion in abundance," said Vatubua's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison.
Vatubua leaves behind his wife Claudette.
British Defence Secretary Liam Fox said his thoughts were with the Fijian community.
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COMMENTS
EDDIE CULLEN Thu 6 Jan 2011 17:32
RIP JOE, I REMEMBER YOU PLAYING FOR THE TEAM IN 2009, YOU WERE A GREAT BIG GUY WITH THE HEART THE SIZE OF A LION. YOU PLKAYED WELL IN THE MIDDLESEX SEVENS THAT YEAR, AND I AM SURE YOU WERE DESTINED FOR GREATER HOUNOURS.
Reply | Report this PostTO ALL RUGBY PLAYERS THIS BRINGS HOME THAT THE ARMY TEAM ARE SOLDIERS FIRST!
GOD BLESS JOE
EDDIE
Sonny Slade Sat 8 Jan 2011 09:08
A warrior on the rugby pitch and a warrior in the battlefield. You served both with honour. Now enjoy life in paradise brother. With head bowed ..... your former Samoan rival on this earth, your comrade in the next.
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