On behalf of World Rugby and the global rugby family we send our sincere and heartfelt thoughts and condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and former teammates of Willie Los’e, who sadly passed away in South Africa on Wednesday, aged 55.
A former Tonga international, playing as a lock and co-captaining his country at Rugby World Cup 1995, Willie has been a popular and much loved voice of rugby since finishing his playing days and was preparing to commentate on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, which begins on Friday.
Willie played provincial grade rugby in New Zealand for Auckland and North Harbour in the 1990s, as well as time spent at Yamaha in Japan during his playing career before becoming a successful and well respected TV and radio broadcaster, principally with Sky Sport NZ. In a distinguished career behind the microphone Willie commentated at four previous Rugby World Cup Sevens and four Rugby World Cups in the women’s game spanning from 1997-2018.
We pay tribute to a gentleman of the game, on and off the pitch, who will be sadly missed by all who knew, worked and played with him.
Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby Chairman