Willie Los'e

Willie Los'e
Los'e at the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens
Birth nameWilliam Keith Los'e
Date of birth(1967-07-22)22 July 1967
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Date of death7 September 2022(2022-09-07) (aged 55)
Place of deathCape Town, South Africa
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1990–1993 Waitemata ()
1994–1995 East Coast Bays ()
2001 Renwick ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989-90 Rugby Prato ()
1992-93 Messina Rugby ()
1996–2001 Yamaha ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1990–1993 Auckland 8 (10)
1994–1995 North Harbour 17 (5)
2001 Marlborough 1 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988 New Zealand U-21 3 (0)
1995 Tonga 3 (0)

William Keith Los'e (pronounced as "low-SAY"; 22 July 1967 – 7 September 2022) was a Tongan rugby union player who played as a lock. After retiring from playing, he worked as a radio host and TV commentator.[1][2]

Early life

Los'e was born on 22 July 1967, the son of Kuini and Tavake Los'e.[3] He grew up in West Auckland and attended Kelston Boys' High School, where he was head prefect.[4]

Playing career

Los'e played three matches for the New Zealand Colts in 1988. Eight years later, he played for Tonga in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing all three pool stage matches. Los'e also played in the National Provincial Championship for Auckland, North Harbour and Marlborough. His debut for Auckland was against Otago, on 21 September 1991, at Carisbrook, in which he started as a substitute player. Los'e played in Italy, while he was studying Italian since 1989/90 to 1992/93 for Rugby Prato and for Messina Rugby.

Los'e played in Japan for Yamaha Júbilo.[5]

Broadcasting career

After retiring from playing, Los'e worked as host for The Radio Network, where he hosted Radio Sport. He went on to work as a full-time TV commentator for Super Rugby, ITM Cup and more World Rugby Sevens Series events on Sky TV.[6]

Los'e died on 7 September 2022 in Cape Town, while in South Africa for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[7]

References

  1. ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana (21 February 2012). "Lose 'gutted' as Veitch takes over dream job". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  2. ^ Harvey, Kerry (15 June 2016). "The Ground We Won: Willie Los'e says he owes his life to rugby". Stuff. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. ^ "William Los'e obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Former rugby international and commentator Willie Los'e dies aged 55". The New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Where are they now – Willie Los'e". Rugby News Japan. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017.
  6. ^ "To 1995 Tongan rugby international and now TV commentator Willie Los'e". KeithQuinnRugby. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Sky Sport rugby commentator Willie Los'e dies, aged 55". Stuff. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.