Olympic Gold Medallist Faces Legal Trouble After Alleged Assault on Teammate
Biarritz Olympique is conducting an internal investigation following a violent altercation between two of its senior players, which resulted in one of them being seriously injured. Initially, the club refrained from disclosing the individuals involved, but subsequent reports identified Masivesi Dakuwaqa as the player taken into police custody for allegedly attacking his teammate, Pierre Pagès.
The incident occurred after a night out and left Pagès, the team’s scrum-half, with a severe facial injury requiring 20 stitches. While Dakuwaqa has not provided a clear explanation for his actions, he reportedly admitted to biting Pagès but claimed he could not remember the events leading up to the altercation.
Sources suggest that the dispute originated over money, with Pagès getting hurt while trying to intervene in a confrontation between Dakuwaqa and another player. Following the attack, Pagès was hospitalized, and Dakuwaqa was arrested at the scene.
As a consequence of his actions, Dakuwaqa has been suspended and is scheduled to appear in court in May. Biarritz Olympique is also reviewing his future with the club, with reports indicating that his contract could be terminated without financial compensation.
Dakuwaqa, who joined Biarritz in July 2024 on a two-year contract, had been a key player for the team after spending three seasons with Montpellier. The Fijian No. 8 had also played for Western Force and Toulon, earning international caps during Fiji’s 2021 November tour. However, his form had started to decline since January.
Despite his recent struggles, several Pro D2 clubs had shown interest in signing him due to his past performances. Meanwhile, Biarritz Olympique has been enduring a difficult period, having failed to secure a victory since early December and slipping to 10th place in the league standings.
The club has emphasized its commitment to discipline and cooperation with authorities, assuring that appropriate measures will be taken once the investigation is concluded.