Medhi Narjissi, in Cape Town with the France under-18 team to take part in a youth tournament, has gone missing after being swept away at sea. Photo: Instagram/medhi.njs
Cape Town - In the wake of the tragedy involving a young French rugby player, the U18 International Series schedule had to be changed.
Medhi Narjissi, a 17-year-old who plays rugby for the U18 schools rugby squad, was swept out to sea last Wednesday.
Members of the rugby team were swimming at Diaz Beach at Cape Point during a recovery session when the teen was swept away by powerful rip currents.
The annual U18 series in South Africa kicks off today in Cape Town.
After France’s withdrawal, the series’ schedule was altered to include two matches per round, guaranteeing that the schedules of the other travelling teams are not impacted.
By Friday night, the French team had travelled back to their country.
The first round will kick off at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town. The SA U-18 “A” team’s three matches were cut to one, against Georgia, and the match against France was cancelled.
Georgia’s second match is now set for Friday, against England. Originally, they were to play France once and the SA U-18 “A” side twice. They will also play Ireland on August 20, on the last of the three match days.
The tragic news of the death of Narjissi, who also plays for Stade Toulouse, sent shockwaves through the rugby fraternity.
The French Rugby Federation has expressed its deep concern over the tragedy. “Pending ongoing research, the federation has approached Medhi’s family and is supporting the U18 team and its supervisors on site,” it said.
Speaking to French media on Saturday, the federation’s president Florian Grill said the French rugby fraternity had been gripped by an “immense emotion”.
“From the point of view of international law, they (the search) are supposed to last 15 days but we have already discussed with the teams on site and they will extend this deadline,” he told Midi Olympique.
Grill said a psychological support and assistance unit has been set up for players and managers in South Africa and France. The teen’s family, including his father Djalil Narjissi, a former Moroccan rugby international, had been flown to Cape Town soon after the disappearance.
Grill told Midi Olympique: “It was not a swim but rather a regeneration in the water. But yes, it was not recommended.”
The French rugby boss said he had spoken to Oscar Boutez, one of Mehdi Narjissi’s teammates, who had tried in vain to rescue him from the surf before he returned to shore unharmed.
“He tried everything...” Grill is reported to have said before he burst into tears, ending the interview.
Mark Alexander, president of the SA Rugby Union, wrote a note of condolence to the Narjissi family and French rugby community.
“We cannot begin to comprehend the sorrow the family must be feeling at this moment. The entire rugby fraternity stands with you. This devastating news has been felt deeply across the rugby community here in SA and around the world,” Alexander said.
The search for Narjissi had since been called off as the weather conditions were severe.
Police previously said the search had been called off temporarily due to poor sea conditions.
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