Tributes to rugby player who collapsed at training session

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to a professional rugby union player who collapsed and died yesterday.

Ian Williams, a 27-yearold prop with Doncaster Knights, collapsed just moments before a training session at the club’s Castle Park ground yesterday morning.

Originally from Swansea, Mr Williams went to his hometown university before studying for a masters at Oxford University, whom he represented in the varsity match with Cambridge in 2013.

He moved north to sign for Rotherham Titans in 2016 before making the switch to Doncaster last summer.

A club statement read: “It is with great sadness that Doncaster RFC announces the passing of prop forward Ian Williams.

“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 sister, Helen, and are working with a counselling team in the best interest of Ian’s team-mates.”

The Knights, who play in English club rugby’s second tier, declined to make any further statement.

But the loss has been felt across the town as well with the chief executive Gavin Baldwin of Club Doncaster – the umbrella organisation behind Doncaster Rovers FC and Doncaster RLFC – offering his condolences. Mr Baldwin said: “Everyone at Club Doncaster extends our best wishes to the family of Ian, as well as everyone at the Knights. “Ian was a prop with plenty of his career ahead of him, this is a sad loss for Doncaster’s sporting community.” Dons chief executive, Carl Hall, said: “The Dons family stands alongside the Knights at this sad time. “We have a strong working relationship with the Knights, and have been training at Castle Park this year. Our thoughts are with them and Ian’s family.”