The 27-year-old Doncaster Knights prop Ian Williams collapsed during training on Tuesday
Rugby Mourns Doncaster Knights prop Ian Williams
The rugby community is in mourning after the tragic news that Doncaster Knights prop Ian Williams died aged 27 on Tuesday.
Williams joined Doncaster from Rotherham Titans last summer. He collapsed during a training session at the Greene King IPA Championship club on Tuesday morning and could not be revived.
The club described it as “a heart-breaking day” and made these comments on their website:
“Ian collapsed at training at Castle Park this morning and, despite the best efforts of the emergency response team, could not be resuscitated.
“Ian joined the club in summer 2017 from Rotherham Titans and quickly became a well-liked member of the Knights squad, making six appearances for the club.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to Ian’s mother Pippa, father Phillip and and sister Helen, and are working with a counselling team in the best interest of Ian’s team-mates.”
The rugby community have been quick to rally round, expressing their condolences and paying tributes to the Oxford graduate.
Williams’s former club Rotherham Titans led the tributes as they put out this tweet:
@RotherhamRugby are deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that former prop forward Ian Williams has passed away. As a Club we pass on our deepest sympathies to Ian's family & close friends #RugbyFamilypic.twitter.com/mPORmaDLC6
Former Wales scrum-half Rupert Moon, who worked with Williams at RGC 1404, said:
Gutted that another good person has gone too soon …. Ian stepped down to help @RGC1404 step up. Selfless good guy. Proud to have signed him … Privileged to have known him. Thank you Ian. #RIPIan Ian Williams dies aged 27 – BBC Sport https://t.co/qx4zHgNaGxpic.twitter.com/Z3wgIHLBgS
Doncaster have said they will publish the details of the funeral arrangements on their website once they are known.
Wales reporter Phil Steele took to social media to explain how it put things into perspective, reacting to the news on Twitter by saying: “Desperately sad news – puts every rivalry, loss of a match, TMO decision and selection preference etc… into its true perspective.”