{{Short description|Samoan rugby union player (1990–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Kelly Meafua | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1990|10|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Samoa | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|5|6|1990|10|16|df=yes}} | death_place = Montauban, France | height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|114|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}} | ru_currentposition = Flanker | ru_currentteam = Montauban | years1 = 2014–2015 | clubs1 = West Harbour | apps1 = 14 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2015 | clubs2 = Greater Sydney Rams | apps2 = 6 | points2 = 10 | years3 = 2015–2016 | clubs3 = Narbonne | apps3 = 23 | points3 = 20 | years4 = 2017 | clubs4 = Greater Sydney Rams | apps4 = 3 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2017–2018 | clubs5 = West Harbour | apps5 = 15 | points5 = 35 | years6 = 2018–2020 | clubs6 = Béziers | apps6 = 30 | points6 = 45 | years7 = 2020–2022 | clubs7 = Montauban | apps7 = 49 | points7 = 45 | repsevensyears1 = 2013–2014 | repsevensteam1 = Samoa | repsevenscomp1 = 19 }}
'''Kelly Meafua''' (16 October 1990 – 6 May 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.news/samoan-player-from-montauban-kelly-meafua-kills-himself-by-jumping-from-a-bridge/|title=Samoan player from Montauban Kelly Meafua kills himself by jumping from a bridge|website=time.news| date=7 May 2022 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> was a Samoan rugby union player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nswwaratahs.com.au/waratahs/squad/playerdetail/pid/444/player/kelly-meafua|title=Kelly Meafua|website=www.nswwaratahs.com.au|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> His position of choice was flanker.
==Club career== Meafua moved to Auckland when he was 14 but did not start playing rugby until he joined Otahuhu at 20 years old.<ref name="summary"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Former Samoa sevens player dies after jumping off bridge |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-former-samoa-sevens-player-kelly-meafua-dies-after-jumping-off-bridge/5D5OGMJ3ECJALRPXUNRUY4TOQU/ |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> He played for both the Auckland under–21 and Auckland Sevens before moving to Sydney to play for West Harbour in the Shute Shield.<ref name="summary"/> Meafua then played for the Greater Sydney Rams and was part of the Waratahs extended training squad.<ref name="summary"/><ref name="newshub">{{cite news |title=Rugby: Former Samoa sevens player Kelly Meafua dies after jumping off bridge in France |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/05/rugby-former-samoa-sevens-player-kelly-meafua-dies-after-jumping-off-bridge-in-france.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508234544/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/05/rugby-former-samoa-sevens-player-kelly-meafua-dies-after-jumping-off-bridge-in-france.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 May 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=Newshub |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== In 2013 Meafua played for the Samoa sevens team in the World Rugby Sevens Series before in 2015 he moved to France to play for Narbonne in the French Pro D2.<ref name="summary"/><ref name="newshub"/> He returned to France again in 2018, this time playing for Béziers in the Pro D2 before in 2020 he switched to Montauban.<ref name="summary"/><ref name="newshub"/>
==Personal life== Meafua was from the villages of Sala'ilua and Lalomauga and grew up in Samoa.<ref name="summary">{{cite news |title=Samoan sevens star Kelly Meafua dies after jumping off bridge while celebrating win in France |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/128582227/samoan-sevens-star-kelly-meafua-dies-after-jumping-off-bridge-while-celebrating-win-in-france |work=Stuff |date=8 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
On the 6 May 2022 while celebrating Montauban final home game and a win over Narbonne, Meafua died after jumping off the Pont-Vieux bridge into the river Tarn.<ref name="summary"/><ref name="newshub"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{All.Rugby profile|kelly-meafua}} * {{ItsRugby profile|kelly-meafua-30939}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meafua, Kelly}} Category:1990 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:US Montauban players Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Greater Sydney Rams players Category:RC Narbonne players Category:AS Béziers Hérault players Category:Rugby union number eights Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in France
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