Willie Losʻe

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]

Willie Los'e

Los'e at the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens
Born	William Keith Los'e (1967-07-22)22 July 1967 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	7 September 2022(2022-09-07) (aged 55) Cape 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)

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]