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<docID>339528</docID>
<postdate>2025-03-03 13:41:20</postdate>
<headline>Brumbies backrower downed by dengue fever</headline>
<body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339529" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240606150426397870-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p>
<caption>Tuaina Taii Tualima (left), who joined the Brumbies from the Rebels, is sick with dengue fever (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption>
<p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Melissa Woods</strong>Â </span></p>
<p><strong>Brumbies backrower Tuaina Taii Tualima is sidelined after being diagnosed with dengue fever following their round one Super Rugby Pacific clash with Fijian Drua in Suva.</strong></p>
<p>Tualima made his club SRP debut in the match last month, with the Brumbies becoming the first Australian team to win in Fiji.</p>
<p>But the 27-year-old from Queensland fell ill after the trip and was unable to play their round two match against the Western Force in Canberra.</p>
<p>The Brumbies issued a statement on Monday saying that testing had revealed the mosquito-borne disease.</p>
<p>"The team took all preventative measures against mosquito-borne illnesses, however one of our players, Tuaina Taii Tualima, has become ill after catching dengue fever.</p>
<p>"The affected player has been diagnosed early and is receiving medical input from the team doctor and an infectious disease specialist."</p>
<p>The club didn't provide a timeline for his return.</p>
<p>Tualima, who can also play lock, joined the Brumbies from the defunct Melbourne Rebels.</p>
<p>The Brumbies are currently in New Zealand following their 49-34 loss to the table-topping Chiefs, which came after their shock loss at home to the Force.</p>
<p>They next face defending champions the Blues in Auckland on Friday night and are already without Wallabies loose forwards Rob Valetini and Tom Hooper.</p>
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