Body of Welsh rugby player found in France
Tributes have been paid to Steffan Rees, a 29-year-old Royal Navy sailor and rugby player from Wales, who tragically passed away while participating in the World Defence Rugby competition on French soil.
Rees, a member of the Combined Services rugby team, was discovered lifeless along the coastal expanse of Dinard in Brittany on Tuesday. Initial investigations point to an accidental fall as the cause of his untimely demise, shared local prosecutor Fabrice Tremel via AFP.
Reports reveal that Rees had been reported missing prior to his discovery, which prompted a swift search operation. Tremel informed AFP that the player's identification was corroborated by two team coaches shortly after the alarm was raised that the young rugby player had gone missing.
Rees, who played centre and fullback, had previously played with Aberystwyth Rugby Club.
The Royal Navy, working hand in hand with French authorities, has embarked on a joint investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death.
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy conveyed their condolences, stating, "We can confirm the death of Royal Navy sailor, Able Seaman Steffan Rees of Aberystwyth. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family and friends. We continue to assist the French authorities with their investigations and therefore are unable to comment further."
In memory of Rees, Aberystwyth RFC's upcoming fixture against Kidwelly has been postponed.
The World Defence Rugby competition, a stage for 12 allied nations, is currently underway in 26 locales throughout Brittany, culminating on September 10. A statement from the organisers released on Thursday read: "The organisers of the 2023 international defence rugby competition, the Western Defence and Security Zone, the Centre National des Sports de la Defense and the Brittany Regional Rugby League, join with the UK Armed Forces in mourning the death of a member of their team during the competition earlier this week.
"The entire rugby and military sports community has come together to offer its more fraternal support to the family of the British serviceman, his loved ones and his team-mates.
"The British team has decided to continue the competition in tribute to his comrade. We would like to express our sympathy and solidarity to his teammates and wish them every success."
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Excellent game management in the last 15 or so minutes to close it out. Aussie got a bit panicky.
Go to commentsWhile all this is going on… I’ve been thinking more about the NFL draft system and how to make the commercial elements of the game more sustainable for SA teams who precariously live on the fringe of these developments. SA teams play in Europe now, and are welcome, because there’s a novelty to it. SA certainly doesn’t bring the bucks (like a Japan would to SR) but they bring eyes to it. But if they don’t perform (because they don’t have the money like the big clubs) - it’s easy come easy go… I think there is an element of strategic drafting going on in SA. Where the best players (assets) are sort of distributed amongst the major teams. It’s why we’re seeing Moodie at the Bulls for example and not at his homegrown Western Province. 20-30 years ago, it was all about playing for your province of birth. That has clearly changed in the modern era. Maybe Moodie couldn’t stay in the cape because at the time the Stormers were broke? Or had too many good players to fit him in? Kistchoff’s sabbatical to Ireland and back had financial benefits. Now they can afford him again (I would guess). What I am getting at is - I think SA Rugby needs to have a very strong strategy around how teams equitably share good youth players out of the youth structures. That is SA’s strong point - a good supply of good players out of our schools and varsities. It doesn’t need to be the spectacle we see out of the states, but a system where SA teams and SA rugby decide on where to draft youth, how to fund this and how to make it that it were possible for a team like the Cheetahs (for example) to end up with a team of young stars and win! This is the investment and thinking that needs to be happening at grassroots to sustain the monster meanwhile being created at the top.
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