Southport Rugby Football Club will this weekend invite players and fans to join in a minute’s applause to celebrate the life of a young player who died after scoring a try during a match.
The club will make the gestures at all its fixtures following the tragic death of Evesham Rugby Club player Jack Jeffery, 27, who was taken to hospital after being injured in the seniors league game against Berkswell and Balsall on Saturday. He later died.
His father Glenn said he died “doing what he loved the most, playing rugby”.
Southport will also suspend the use of players wearing Jack’s number 11 shirt this weekend in tribute.
A Southport RFC spokesperson said: “We will be joining clubs around the country by holding a minute’s applause before all fixtures, alongside retiring the no.11 shirt for this weekend as a tribute to Evesham RFC, Jack Jeffery.
“Our thoughts remain with Jack’s family, friends and all who knew and loved him.”
Evesham Rugby Club chairman Dave Summerfield said the players were reeling as “it was such a terrible shock”.
A flag was flown at half-mast at Evesham Rugby Club as a mark of respect for the “extremely popular player”, Mr Summerfield said.
He said the accident had “affected the players greatly”, adding: “As a club, we have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and goodwill from the rugby community.
“Jack was calm, respected and highly thought of. Our club and community have lost such a bright light.”
A statement on the club’s website said Mr Jeffery, who lived in London, was “adding another try to his phenomenal record” and was injured in an accident on the pitch as he scored.
“He served his club, his teammates and the county with distinction and provided much satisfaction to the club supporters in knowing exactly where the whitewash [try line] was.”
The Rugby Football Union said in a tweet it extended its “heartfelt sympathies” to the family and friends of the player.
“The thoughts of everyone in the game are with Evesham Rugby Football Club, their players, members and the wider rugby community,” it added.
Evesham thanked everyone who had supported Mr Jeffery “in his moment of need” and for the messages of support received from other clubs.
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