World Rugby is saddened to learn of the death of former Ivory Coast international Max Brito. Our sincere thoughts and condolences, together with those of the global rugby fraternity, are with his family, friends, ex-teammates and colleagues.
Brito was born on April 8, 1968 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and was five years old when he and his family moved to Biscarrosse in France. He was playing as a winger for the Biscarrosse Olympique club when he was selected to represent Ivory Coast at Rugby World Cup 1995 in South Africa. Sadly he suffered a life-changing injury during their third pool match with Tonga.
Marcel Martin, Bernard Lapasset and the Fédération Française de Rugby among many others have worked hard to ensure support for Brito since 1995, and he has been an important presence at Rugby World Cups since.
Brito stayed involved in the sport he loved and his legacy and passion for rugby will continue through the Max Brito Academy, which was set up by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby to train and inspire youngsters to play rugby in the Ivory Coast.
Photo ©Biscarrosse Olympique