Teenage rugby league player dies during tour to France
A TEENAGE rugby league player died on a pre-season tour to France, where his body was retrieved from a lake.
Harry Sykes, 16, was travelling with the Halifax Elite Rugby Academy when he disappeared from the party on Wednesday around Cavayère Lake, near the town of Carcassonne.
A local council official said an extensive search of the water – where the squad had a team photo hours before his disappearance – was carried out involving divers.
His body was found at 11pm on Wednesday night, after two hours in the water. He had arrived in France on Monday, and had taken part in a game on Tuesday against Lézignan-corbières.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the academy said: “We are devasted beyond words to confirm that one of our players, Harry Sykes, passed away yesterday.” It added: “We are all coming to terms with the loss of a truly kind, honest and committed young man.”
The Rugby Football League, the sport’s governing body, also expressed its condolences. Ralph Rimmer, the chief executive, said: “We are extremely saddened by the tragic news that Halifax Elite Rugby Academy’s Harry Sykes has passed away.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Harry’s family, friends and team-mates at this sad time.”
French officials said a “medical-legal examination” would establish the cause. Examining magistrates and judicial police are involved in the inquiry.
Two Halifax teams – cadets and under-23s – were scheduled to play matches yesterday, but the games were cancelled.