Teammates, rivals and fans around the world are expressing their shock at the passing of two great All Blacks wingers Va'aiga Tuigamala and Joeli Vidiri on the same day.
After a day of grieving over the death of Tuigamala, who revolutionised the code with his powerful running, news broke of Vidiri's departure, after a long battle with kidney disease.
Tuigamala, 52, impacted both rugby union and league, making 19 appearances for New Zealand between 1989-93, before switching to the 13-a-side game, where he carved out a successful career with Wigan, then returned to union and his Manu Samoa roots.
Vidiri, 48, was a product of the next era of NZ rugby, the first of a long line of 'Fijian Flyers' to make the step from provincial rugby, where he played 71 games for Counties Manukau, to the national side and an early star of the Super Rugby professional era, where he combined with Jonah Lomu on the champion Blues sides of 1996/97.
While he played just two games for the All Blacks, Vidiri helped New Zealand to gold at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, part of arguably the greatest sevens side ever assembled - Lomu, Cullen, Gear, Reihana, Rush, Seymour - before his kidney ailment cut short his career in 2001.
Both Tuigamala and Vidiri inspired a new generation of Pacific rugby stars, helping blaze the trail that Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua are now continuing in Super Rugby Pacific.
"In our team, we speak of the Pasifika giants that paved the way for our generations and Inga was one of them," Moana Pasifika have posted on social media. "He had an infectious smile that brought joy to many lives and will be sorely missed."
Say the Drua: "Sincerest condolences to family and friends of the great Joeli Vidiri, who opened the doors of Super Rugby for so many of us from Fiji.
"Thank you for giving us hope."
Their deaths have fallen just days after that of league legend Olsen Filipaina, who carved a similar path for Polynesian players in the NRL.
Tributes have poured in from the four corners of the globe.
"Caught myself watching Joeli Vidiri and Va'aiga Tuigamala highlights at 3am this morning," tweets former NRL and Super Rugby player Tupou Sopoaga. "Those two icons were just built different - size, speed, power.
"They just don't build them like that anymore. Never say him live, so Googled Inga's career and unbelievable.
"RIP Pasifika legends."
Says the All Blacks: "You'd struggle to meet a nice guy than Joeli Vidiri, not to mention his remarkable skills on the field."
Former Blues and All Blacks midfielder Ben Atiga sums up Vidiri's impact on the game: "Before Rokocoko, before Sivivatu, before Naholo, Reece... there was VIDIRI.
"Joeli, gimme hope," referring to the tune Blues fans would sing from the Eden Park stands.
More to come
