Deaths in Rugby League

[Slackboy72]

Hate to be so morbid but the other day I stumbled across the following wiki list after hearing about a soccer player dying on the pitch from a heart attack: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_footballers_who_died_while_playing

The two things that immediately struck me about this list was the number who are dying from heart failure and especially how that number has increased dramtically since the early 90's.

This got me thinking about league and especially how players have been getting fitter and stronger and faster and leaner and bulkier year after year after year. On top of that the game is undoubtedly getting faster and faster. One of the first observations from going to two refs last year was that it speeded up the game.

But is it getting too fast? Are we getting to the point where the human body can only go so far and someone sooner or later is going to push it too far? Appreciate some thoughts.

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

Well the Saints died suddenly last year in the semi's if that counts.

 

[Green Machine]

The closest one I can think of was Danny Sheppard playing for the Roosters in the early 90’s. He suffered heat exhaustion and was in serious condition. I was shocked to read a season of two later that he was back playing again in far north Queensland (of all places).
I think the unlimited interchange had the potential for serious injuries, with the players bulking up and staying on for short busts. Glad to see it gone,

 

[Johns Magic]

Well the Saints died suddenly last year in the semi's if that counts.

:lol:

 

[Stagger eel]

The closest one I can think of was Danny Sheppard playing for the Roosters in the early 90’s. He suffered heat exhaustion and was in serious condition. I was shocked to read a season of two later that he was back playing again in far north Queensland (of all places).
I think the unlimited interchange had the potential for serious injuries, with the players bulking up and staying on for short busts. Glad to see it gone,

yep - Adam Ritson was also in a coma after a game for parra against Canberra when Lomax hit him high

 

[Green Machine]

1908Frank Levick26Sheffield UnitedDeath caused by blocking a shot. The ball struck him below the waist, forcing his testicles to become lodged in his abdomen. This caused internal bleeding of the bowel and a subsequent cardiac arrest.[6]

That would hurt,

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

^ Going balls to the wall for the team.

 

[Green Machine]

yep - Adam Ritson was also in a coma after a game for parra against Canberra when Lomax hit him high

That’s not entirely true. He was a very lucky boy Adam. He had undetected cyst on his brain. When he had a brain scan after the match, they discovered the cyst. The operation to get rid of the cyst off his brain nearly killed him

 

[Slackboy72]

Didn't someone have a heart attack in the UK while training last year?

 

[innsaneink]

Clae Webb

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The shield is named in honour of Clae Webb, the young half-back who suffered a heart attack on the field whilst playing for Erina in the Jim Bean Cup earlier this year. He later died in hospital. Pictured left is Clae's parents, Debbie and Wayne with Balmain player Brodie Monroe.[/FONT]
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_...&sID=17177&articleID=1668843&news_task=DETAIL



The man who shed tears for an opponent

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/t...for-an-opponent/2006/08/25/1156012745445.html

 

[Green Machine]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/oct/13/wakefield-watene-rugby

Wakefield prop Watene dies after training

Monday 13 October 2008 15.18 BST

Adam Watene, who has died today aged 31. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Wakefield Trinity have announced the death of Adam Watene. The prop forward, 31, collapsed during a weight training session earlier today.
"The Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are sad to announce the sudden passing of Adam Watene," said the club in a statement. "The circumstances surrounding Adam's death were sudden and unexpected. Everyone at the Wildcats' thoughts are with Adam's family, and we ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
The Cook Islander, who also enjoyed spells with Castleford and Bradford, played 10 matches for the Wildcats this season, scoring two tries. His death comes six months after that of his father in New Zealand.

 

[Phillips]

Didn't someone have a heart attack in the UK while training last year?

adam watene

 

[Mitchsu Danger]

Didnt a couple of Wakefield players including Watene die last year?

 

[The Colonel]

<H1>TRAGIC LOSS FOR NARWAN EEL&#8217;S

October 7, 2008

It was a bittersweet long weekend for Armidale rugby league side, the Narwan Eels.
Popular character and long-time player, Alf Atkinson, died during the team&#8217;s semi-final match at this year&#8217;s Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout.
Despite the tragic loss the side went on to win the game, and ultimately the grandfinal.

</H1>http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2008/10/07/tragic-loss-for-narwan-eels/

 

[The Colonel]

<H1>RFL to investigate Leon Walker death

The Rugby Football League will launch a full investigation into the death of Wakefield forward Leon Walker, who collapsed on the field on Sunday during a reserve game against Celtic Crusaders in Maesteg.



By Nick Pearce and agencies
Published: 8:58PM GMT 23 Mar 2009


Medics tried to revive Walker on the pitch before he was airlifted to hospital in Swansea. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
A minute&#8217;s silence will be observed before all domestic rugby league fixtures in memory of the 21-year-old, following the postponement of last night&#8217;s Super League match between Wakefield and the Crusaders.


This is the second death to befall Wakefield in five months, after prop Adam Watene died during a weights session last October.
The club&#8217;s players and management are said to be in a state of &#8220;shock&#8221; and none more so than Australian half-back Sam Obst, who was present when Watene collapsed in October and was also on the pitch on Sunday.
Wakefield&#8217;s community and marketing director James Elston said &#8220;There was nothing untoward&#8221; about Walker&#8217;s death. &#8220;He was making a tackle and, as play resumed, he remained on the floor.
&#8220;He had stopped breathing and, although the doctor managed to revive him and he started moving about, his breathing stopped again and we&#8217;re pretty sure he was dead on the scene.&#8221;
Elston praised the Celtic medical team and said &#8220;Everybody dealt with it very well. We&#8217;ve got to give credit.&#8221;
Wakefield will go ahead with their Super League fixture against St Helens after the club consulted Walker&#8217;s parents, but the reserve game will be postponed.
&#8220;We had two options &#8211; we could wallow in self-pity and say &#8216;why us?&#8217; or we can get on with playing rugby league,&#8221; Elston said.
&#8220;At the end of the day, Leon played rugby league and loved rugby league and that&#8217;s what he would want to see happen. We&#8217;ve got to do the lad proud.&#8221;

</H1>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/5039221/RFL-to-investigate-Leon-Walker-death.html

 

[Perth Red]

TBF 99% of these cases are players with congential heart defects. They are not having CA's due to being pushed too hard but they have an underlying fault in the heart valves, tissue or a clot that could happen at any time.

Hopefully one day MRI's will be alot cheaper and more available and we can have an annual scan to pick it up before it croaks us!

 

[Non Terminator]

Wasn't there a Dragons Premier League player who died after a length of the field try earlier last decade?

 

[Paulie Jay]

The closest one I can think of was Danny Sheppard playing for the Roosters in the early 90’s. He suffered heat exhaustion and was in serious condition.,

I remember that incident. The irony was that it wasn't a particularly hot day - about 26 degrees - and he just didn't taken on enough fluid to see him through.

 

[Yosh]

Perth Red is right. Some people just unfortunately are born with that condition and they just collaspe never to get up again. I think recently there have been two players in Europe to die from this... I think some basketballer got this and died a while ago to...

 

[Sam_the_man]

Roy Powell, the former GB prop died after a practise session a year or two ago. A New Zealand rep player died just after practise 2 seasons ago.
Who was the Balmain half back in the early 80's that broke his neck? Asian half back i think.