u/Adam8418

https://www.kyudenvoltex.com/news/1001

As the statement from his team, KYUDEN VOLTEX, in the link above indicates, he exhibited symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke during a team practice on Monday this week. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away yesterday. He was only 26.

He was born in Fiji and came to Japan after graduating from high school in NZ. After graduating from Daito Bunka University in 2023, he played 3 games for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath between 2023 and 2026. He joined his current team this offseason and was training for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

As a Japanese rugby fan, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Words cannot describe how sorry I'm to see a young rugby player's life ending the way it did. It physically pains me to imagine the pain he must have been feeling as he was dying and the last thing he felt leaving a rugby field was excruciating pain from severe heatstroke, not pride or joy.

I'm also outraged at how preventable his death was. I looked up the weather conditions on August 3, when he got sick, in the area where his team's training facility is located (Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture). The maximum temperature and humidity of the day in the area was 36.9 degree Celsius and 75% humidity. We have a heatstroke alert/forecast system in place across the country to warn people of extreme heat in their areas. The heat stress index based on actual measurements made in Fukuoka city on August 3 was 34.3 with 35 being the highest warning level where engaging in activities under this condition would have life-threatening effects on human body. I just don't understand how the team thought holding training in this condition is appropriate.

https://tenki.jp/past/2026/08/03/weather/9/43/47807/

https://heatstroke.city.fukuoka.lg.jp

In addition, JRFU holding onto the news of his death until 50 minutes before the start of today's Japan v. Australia isn't acceptable. The news like this should take precedent to anything else. It should not have been released less than an hour away from a game played by national team. This might not be the union's intention, but it is really a bad look on the union as it make it seem like they don't wanna talk about the death of a player before the big game.

His team will probably hold a press conference in upcoming days. I'll give updates if they come up in the next few days.

Cost me $2.2k in materials(crusher dust, paving sand, drain, stormwater, gap filler sand and pavers). Roughly 20m long and 1m wide.

Not perfect but happy with the result. Out of interest, what would this cost if I had it done by trades, I’m trying to quantify the effort/money saved factor(acknowledging they would have done it to higher quality).

Did the walk along Enoggera Creek - and it was just marvellous weather I couldn’t help but stop and take a few photos on my iPhone.

$287.5 million revitalisation of RNA Showgrounds with construction to start after this year’s Ekka.

Major upgrades will deliver a legacy with 20,000 seat Main Arena, grandstands, horse pavilion and accessibility upgrades.

Hutchinson Builders has been selected to make the vision a reality and work will get underway shortly after this year’s Ekka, with demolition of Machinery Hill and enabling infrastructure expected to begin in September 2026.

The Ekka will continue to be held at the RNA while construction is underway and the only year The Ekka won’t be held will be in 2032.

The historic announcement is the first time RA has adopted the initiative amid the growing investment in the Women's game.

It's spread across the country, including 10 Queenslanders, seven from NSW, five from the ACT and four from Western Australia.

"Providing a pathway for the next generation of talent both in the 7s and XVs formats of rugby is crucial to domestic and teams in gold success," Director of Women’s High Performance Tim Walsh said.

"The group of players who have signed agreements form the base of elite talent coming through the system and together we will be able to fast-track their development into rugby at the highest level.

"These agreements allow selected players to focus on their rugby and provide a clear path towards success and pleasingly we have a range of players from four states identified."

This includes Australia A Sevens trio Cobi Ryan-Last, Darci Turinui and Tiki Calliste amongst the significant group to be contracted.

All three featured during Australia A's title success at the Pirika 7s in Japan.

Ryan-Last and Turinui were both included in the Inaugural Next Gen 7s Team of the Series in 2025.

The announcement follows the launch of the NextGen XVs program at both under 16 and under 19 levels kicking off in September, with two RA under 19 teams to compete on September 12 and October 3, while the under 16 program will participate in a holistic development camp before playing their own match on October 3.

The talent is spread across the forwards and backs, including nine players contracted within the tight five.
"One of the Australian Rugby Foundation's strategic pillars is strengthening Women's Rugby because we believe the future of the game is shaped by the opportunities we create today," General Manager of the Australian Rugby Foundation Holly Kelsall said.

"These youth retention contracts provide support at a pivotal stage of a player's development, giving 26 emerging athletes the opportunity to focus on their rugby and reach their potential.

"This is exactly the kind of impact our donors make possible: investing in talented young players today to strengthen Australian rugby for generations to come."

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/next-generation-of-female-talent-locked-into-high-performance-players-agreements-202683

Located Brisbane, we have some big trees to our north in the local park which means during winter, we get very little direct sunlight into the garden (In the photo-this is 11am during July).

We have a dog and young children so want to maintain grass for them, and potentially expand it out a little. But unsure if it’s feasible with the sunlight situation. We have a mix of Couch, Zoysia and Buffalo there at the moment(I was running an experiment to see which worked), but none have really done too well.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a shade tolerant grass for Brisbane?

This is likely the cause and reason for delays in Aus Govt signing off funding for pacific islands which includes potential Super Rugby Aus expansion - Tonga and Fiji rumoured to have already signed, and were waiting on Samoa to sort out politics between governing body and prime minister, which are representatives from from opposing political parties.

Yeah, my first assumption was that this was the same dude and someone had messed up the Wikipedia entry. Turns out I was wrong and they're separate guys.

33yr old Brit Sam Jeffries (198cm, 118kg) came from Bristol Bears and has been in the Eng squad before.

34yr old Aussie Sam Jeffries (200cm, 120kg) played for Rebels and also Aus U20s, and qualifies for Japan on residency grounds now.

Anyone think of any other commentator's nightmare "same name / same position" scenarios?