France rugby union team-mate and captain Gael Fickou has paid tribute to Uini Atonio, who was forced to retire from professional rugby due to a "cardiac event". The 35-year-old prop forward, who won 68 caps for France, was taken to an intensive care unit at a hospital in La Rochelle on Tuesday after suffering the cardiac issue.
Fickou described Atonio as an "incredible player with an extraordinary physique and amazing qualities", adding that he was "undoubtedly the best French prop we've ever had". He also spoke about how Atonio's retirement is a loss for France, saying: "He left his mark. He probably would have preferred a different ending, but that's life. Rugby isn't eternal, but friendship is."
Fickou's comments come after Atonio was forced to retire from professional rugby due to the cardiac issue. The incident has raised concerns about the long-term health effects of playing professional rugby, with experts warning that the sport can bring out pre-existing heart conditions.
According to Professor Daniel Augustine, who heads Sports Cardiology UK, two to three percent of elite sportspeople will have an underlying heart condition. He also pointed out that cardiac disease can have a latent period, where symptoms may not appear until much later.
The news of Atonio's retirement has sparked tributes from his former club and international team-mates, including England prop Jamie George.
Fickou described Atonio as an "incredible player with an extraordinary physique and amazing qualities", adding that he was "undoubtedly the best French prop we've ever had". He also spoke about how Atonio's retirement is a loss for France, saying: "He left his mark. He probably would have preferred a different ending, but that's life. Rugby isn't eternal, but friendship is."
Fickou's comments come after Atonio was forced to retire from professional rugby due to the cardiac issue. The incident has raised concerns about the long-term health effects of playing professional rugby, with experts warning that the sport can bring out pre-existing heart conditions.
According to Professor Daniel Augustine, who heads Sports Cardiology UK, two to three percent of elite sportspeople will have an underlying heart condition. He also pointed out that cardiac disease can have a latent period, where symptoms may not appear until much later.
The news of Atonio's retirement has sparked tributes from his former club and international team-mates, including England prop Jamie George.
. We take these amazing human bodies, capable of incredible feats like playing professional rugby, and then we put them through such physical demands that it's a wonder any of us make it to 35 without some kind of health scare 
. It's a harsh reminder that our time on this earth is limited, and we have to cherish the moments we spend with loved ones... Atonio's words about friendship being more eternal than rugby itself hit me hard 
. We need to appreciate these incredible athletes not just for their skills on the field, but for the impact they have on our lives off it 
.
hope hes doin alright in intensive care tho 68 caps for france is impressive tho but thats the risk of playing pro rugby dont get me wrong i love the sport but health should come 1st
. But seriously, this is a big wake-up call for all these pro athletes. They gotta take care of themselves before they end up like Atonio. Cardiac events are super rare but not unheard of...we should be worried 
.
it just goes to show that even in a sport where you can't live forever, you can leave a lasting impact on people's lives 
u gotta feel bad 4 Uini Atonio...he was an amazing player & left a big mark on rugby 
. I think its good dat Fickou spoke up abt the impact of retirement, it shows how much he cared for his friend 
. We gotta take care of our health & look out 4 each other 
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. I'm glad Fickou is saying nice things about him and stuff. It's just weird how rugby can do that to people... my cousin's friend plays rugby and he's always talking about how fit he is, but I guess you never know what's going on inside 
. But seriously, why does it have to be like that? Can't they just make the game safer or something?