‘Haunted’ Gold Medallist Dismissed Following Brutal Teammate Bite During Night Out

Masivesi Dakuwaqa has publicly apologised to his Biarritz teammate Pierre Pages after an alarming incident where he bit Pages on the cheek during a night out that involved alcohol. This behaviour has resulted in the rugby club terminating his contract.

In an interview with L’Equipe newspaper on Wednesday (AEDT), Dakuwaqa, who won a gold medal with Fiji at the 2016 Olympic sevens, expressed confusion over why he reacted violently towards Pages when the scrumhalf attempted to intervene after a team gathering at a local restaurant in southern France last month.

Dakuwaqa became agitated after a number of teammates advised him against driving himself home.

Reports indicate that Dakuwaqa smashed a car window, prompting Pages to approach him for a discussion.

It was at this moment that Dakuwaqa bit his teammate, causing a serious injury that required 20 stitches at a medical facility in Biarritz.

“Following the club’s internal investigation, the allegations made against Masivesi Dakuwaqa have made it untenable for him to continue with the club,” stated Biarritz, a team competing in the second division.

The club has indicated there will be no further statements made regarding the issue.

Dakuwaqa shared that he feels “overwhelmed with regret” and cannot stop reflecting on Pages.

Since the incident, they have not communicated as Dakuwaqa’s lawyer advised against any contact.

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“I genuinely want to express my apologies to Pierre and his family,” he remarked, admitting that he was taken aback by his own actions.

“This should never have transpired,” he stated to L’Equipe. “If it weren’t for the drinking, I would never have behaved this way. I had too many beers and lost control. We were all set for a meal among players to bolster our team spirit following a series of losses.

“Everything was proceeding smoothly. We were sharing tales and having a good time. Then, out of nowhere, I blacked out and lost all memory of the events that took place.

“I woke up in a holding cell, shirtless, puzzled about how I ended up there. Everything was a blur. I sensed I had done something wrong, but I was unaware of what. When questioned by the police, I asked them: ‘Why am I here? What did I do?’

“They told me, ‘You bit someone.’ I responded, ‘Who did I bite?’ They then showed me a picture of Pierre from Google.”

The 30-year-old Dakuwaqa was part of Fiji’s squad that secured the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.