The Fiji Rugby Union announced the death of prop Iosefo Bele Tabalala on Saturday, saying the 32-year-old apparently died in his sleep in a Suva hotel.

"While official medical results are yet to be released, the FRU can confirm that Iosefo failed to wake up this morning at his hotel camp at the Southern Cross in Suva," it said in a statement.

"His roommate and medical team in camp tried all efforts to revive him."

He was rushed to hospital but could not be revived.

Tabalala was playing for the Fiji Warriors in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge, a tournament featuring reserve teams from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Argentina and Canada.

The FRU said he was Australia based and played for the Brothers club in Brisbane.

It said the Fiji players were shocked at Tabalala's death but were determined to continue in the tournament in his memory.

AFP

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