The passing of Joseph Une is being mourned in the rugby community, where the 21-year-old was seen as an “up-and-coming player with potential for higher rugby honours.”

So said the Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U.) in a statement on the young man’s death, which came during the early hours of Friday morning after a car crash.

Une, who played for Vaimoso and the Taula Vaimauga Eels, was a member of the Samoa Under-23 programme who are currently in training.

S.R.U. Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and the Union itself gave their condolences to Une’s parents Leilani and Ofeira and all his extended family.

“While I do not want to take away from the family’s grief at this time, I believe it would be amiss for the leaders of this sporting body not to take this opportunity to again reiterate to all players, at all levels, the importance of being vigilant in looking after their safety at all times,” Tuilaepa said.