A rugby player has died while playing in a centennial match in New Zealand.
The player died in a game between Ruatoria City's 2022 squad and a Ruatoria Centennial XV, according to The New Zealand Herald who report that the player collapsed and was pronounced dead after 90 minutes of extensive efforts to save him.
The Daily Mail report that the player, who was part of the Ruatoria City's XV, suffered a heart attack in the game on Sunday morning.
Two ambulances drove onto the field and a rescue helicopter was also involved in the emergency response, while players from both teams formed a guard of honour around him while medics responded. A statement from the local police force said an officer who was present at the event also joined the rescue effort, helping paramedics with CPR.
The festival match, which was abandoned, had been celebrating the centenary of one of New Zealand’s smallest rugby clubs.
A spectator said the player's teammates paid their respects before the Māori prayer, 'Karakia', was sung and his body was taken from the field. Union officials had planned to speak to the man's to speak to the man's whānau/family before a decision was made to play the Lochore Cup final later that day. The match went ahead, with players from the Ngāti Porou East Coast and Mid Canterbury Heartland Championship teams holding a minute's silence before kick-off.
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