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Rugby player dies in Switzerland

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

A rugby player has died in Switzerland following a Swiss second league match (Excellence A) in the town of Yverdon on Saturday. The exact cause of death is unclear and will likely be released soon.

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After failing to get up in regular play, the 37-year-old player from club RC Neuchatel was reportedly in critical condition and airlifted to the hospital, where he later passed away.

Medically trained personnel on site reacted immediately and correctly, and emergency services were called and arrived quickly. The match was suspended and the following LNA match was cancelled.

A Swiss Rugby Union statement explained:

“For the moment, the exact cause of the incident and the death are not yet known to the doctors, nor to the Swiss Rugby Union, and any speculation on the cause of the accident or the death is entirely inappropriate. An autopsy by the medical examiner is currently ongoing. As soon as more information is known it will be shared by the Swiss Rugby Union.

“The Swiss Rugby Union would like to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of the player, his club, and everyone involved.”

The club posted to their facebook page after the incident:

“Our sadness is abyssal, writing these lines is unreal, one thing remains, from up there know that we love you infinitely doc. There are only the good memories that remain, all our moments spent in the last twelve years. We’ve almost lived everything together.
Our most sincere thoughts go to your family and your friend to whom we express all our love.”

Republished from Rugby Dump with permission.

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M
Mzilikazi 20 minutes ago
Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian?

Great read on a fascinating topic, Nick. Thanks as always.


My gut feel is that Joe Schmidt won't carry on through to the next RWC. He is at the stage, and age, in his life , that a further two years in a very high pressure coaching job would not be a good thing for either himself or his family. The fact that he remains based in Taupo seems a significant pointer, I would have thought. I believe he has a round trip of 12 hrs driving just to get on a plane to Australia.


Amongst the many good things Joe Schmidt has achieved to this point is that the WB's are now a more enticing prospect to coach going forward.


Tbh, the only Australian coach I would see stepping up and developing the WB's further would be Les Kiss. He has far more in his CV than any other Australian. He now has 23 years of coaching Union,starting with a defence role with the Boks, then back to Australia with the Waratahs. Overseas again for nine years in Ireland, which included 5 years as defence coach with the national team, during which he was interim head coach for two games, both wins. His last years in Ireland were with Ulster, even then a team beginning a decline. So that spell was his least successful. Finally the spell with London Irish, where I felt Kiss was doing very well, till the club collapsed financially.


Of the other Australian options, Dan McKellar has a lot to prove post the year with Leicester. Stephen Larkham has not, in my view, yet shown outstanding qualities as a coach. Nether man has anything close to Kiss's experience. Some may see this as being harsh on both men, ignoring good work they have done. But is how I see it.


Looking outside Australia, I would see Vern Cotter as a strong possibility, if interested. His time with Scotland was outstanding. Ronan O'Gara, I would think, might well be another possibility, though he has no international experience. Jake White ? Maybe .

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