8 Rugby Players Who Died 2013

8 Rugby Players Who Died 2013

Steve Prescott

Steve Prescott was born on 26 December 1973 in St Helens, Merseyside. A slight yet fearless full‑back, he signed with his hometown club St Helens in 1992 and went on to make 117 appearances, crossing the try‑line 52 times between 1993 and 1997; on his England debut against France in 1995 he remarkably kicked and scored a total of 22 points, and that same year he toured with Great Britain, underscoring his representative credentials . In 1998 he joined Hull FC, spent two seasons there, then moved to Wakefield Trinity in 2000 before returning to Hull in 2001; a devastating knee injury in 2003, sustained while representing Lancashire, brought his playing career to an early end . In September 2006 Prescott was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare abdominal cancer, and was given only months to live. Undeterred, he founded the Steve Prescott Foundation in 2007 to raise funds for Christie Hospital in Manchester and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund, organizing charity boxing events, marathon runs (including Paris and London), cycling challenges such as Land’s End to John O’Groats interspersed with the National Three Peaks, and even a windswept row across the English Channel; by the time of his death he had inspired over £500,000 in donations . In the 2010 New Year Honours he was appointed MBE for services to rugby league and charity . After a heroic seven‑year battle, Prescott passed away on 9 November 2013 at the age of 39. His legacy endures through the annual Steve Prescott Cup contested by St Helens and Hull FC and the renaming of Super League’s Man of Steel Award to the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award in 2014. He is survived by his devoted wife Linzi and their two sons, Taylor and Koby.

Samueli Naulu

Samueli Dawai Naulu was born on 5 January 1982 in Narewa, Nadi, Fiji, and emerged as one of the Pacific Islands’ most imposing rugby union talents, standing 1.94 m tall and weighing 116 kg at his peak . Initially honing his skills in rugby league and beginning his professional union career as a flanker, Naulu’s athleticism and raw power prompted his coach at USA Perpignan to trial him on the wing—a move that swiftly transformed him into the club’s first‑choice winger from 2005 through 2010 in both the French Top 14 and the Heineken Cup . He played an instrumental role in Perpignan’s march to the Top 14 championship in 2009, showcasing a rare blend of size, speed, and finishing ability that intimidated opposition defenses . Internationally, Naulu represented Fiji, including appearances at the under‑21 level, where his performances hinted at a long and distinguished career on the world stage . Tragically, on the morning of 30 March 2013, while driving near Issigeac in the Dordogne region of France, Naulu lost control of his vehicle around 5 a.m., and the car collided with a tree, claiming his life at just 31 years of age . In the weeks that followed, the rugby community rallied to support his family: Provale and clubs including Perpignan, Bergerac, and Issigeac organized a fundraiser that collected over €25 550 to cover repatriation and funeral expenses, and memorial services were held in Bergerac and before a European Challenge Cup quarter‑final in Perpignan.

Clifford Morgan

Clifford Isaac Morgan was born on 7 April 1930 in Trebanog, Rhondda, the son of a coal miner, and quickly emerged as one of Welsh rugby’s most electrifying fly‑halves. After joining Cardiff RFC straight from school in 1949, he won his first of 29 caps for Wales in 1951 and played a pivotal role in securing the 1952 Five Nations Championship Grand Slam in only his second full season at international level . In 1955 he starred for the British Lions tour to South Africa—scoring a memorable try in the opening Test and captaining the side in the third Test victory that ensured a drawn series—the first time a Lions team had avoided defeat on South African soil . Retiring from play in 1958, Morgan seamlessly transitioned into broadcasting with BBC Wales, eventually becoming one of the corporation’s most respected voices; his call of Gareth Edwards’s 1973 Barbarians v All Blacks try is still regarded as the greatest piece of rugby commentary ever delivered . A life‑threatening stroke in 1972 temporarily halted his career, but Morgan made a remarkable recovery and in 1975 was appointed head of BBC Outside Broadcasts, a post he held for 12 years, later presenting Radio 4’s Sport on Four until 1998 . Morgan died at his home in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on 29 August 2013 at the age of 83, leaving behind two children and his wife, Pat.

John Hipwell

John Hipwell, born on 24 January 1948 in Toowoomba, Queensland, emerged as one of Australia’s most dynamic scrum‑halves during a nearly decade-and-a-half international career. Making his Wallabies debut in 1968 against Ireland, he quickly distinguished himself with a combative defensive style, lightning‑quick service from the base of the ruck and an uncanny ability to spot gaps around the breakdown. Over the next fourteen years, Hipwell earned 36 Test caps, captaining his country on nine occasions—a remarkable feat in an era when long overseas tours tested both fitness and character. He toured three times with the British & Irish Lions in opposite colours (1971, 1974, 1977), including the memorable 1975–76 Australia-led expedition to France, where he steered the side to historic victories. Even after suffering a career‑threatening collarbone fracture in 1971, Hipwell’s indomitable spirit saw him return to reclaim the No. 9 jersey, inspiring teammates with his unwavering commitment. Off the field, he was renowned for mentoring younger players, helping to shape the tactical evolution of the half‑back role in Australian rugby. After retiring from active play in 1982, Hipwell remained deeply involved in the game through coaching clinics and administrative roles within Queensland Rugby. He passed away on 23 September 2013 in Brisbane, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, resilience and a blueprint for modern scrum‑half play that continues to influence generations of Wallabies to this day.

Graham Murray

Graham Ernest Murray was a distinguished Australian rugby league footballer turned coach whose influence spanned both men’s and women’s game. Born 6 January 1955 in Peak Hill, New South Wales, Murray began his first-grade playing career with the Parramatta Eels (1976–80) before moving to South Sydney (1981–83), amassing nearly 100 appearances and earning a reputation for his gritty presence in the halves . Transitioning to coaching, he guided the Illawarra Steelers to their inaugural finals series (1991–95), briefly led the Hunter Mariners (1997), then achieved Super League success with England’s Leeds Rhinos—including a Challenge Cup victory in 1999—and drove the Sydney Roosters (2000–01) and North Queensland Cowboys (2002–08) to unprecedented heights, notably taking the Cowboys to their maiden grand final in 2005 . At representative level, he helmed Fiji (1995), City NSW (2001–05) and the New South Wales State of Origin side (2006–07). In January 2010, Murray accepted the role of head coach for the Australian Jillaroos, elevating the women’s game through rigorous preparation and mentorship; the team captured the Women’s World Cup in July 2013 and immediately dedicated their triumph to him . Murray’s career was cut tragically short following a series of heart attacks in early 2013; after spending a week in a coma in March, he suffered another attack in July, was placed on life support at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and passed away aged 58 on 28 July when support was withdrawn.

Ian Walsh

Ian John Walsh was one of Australia’s most celebrated rugby league figures, revered for his mastery of the hooker role, inspirational leadership and later contributions as a coach and journalist. Born 20 March 1933 in Bogan Gate, New South Wales, Walsh rose from country football in Parkes and Forbes to join the powerhouse St George Dragons in 1962, where he played 96 first-grade games and featured in five consecutive premiership victories (1962–1966), captaining the club to its record eleventh straight title in 1966 and again leading the team in 1967 when the Dragons’ streak ended . Internationally, he earned 25 Test caps for Australia between 1959 and 1966—serving as captain in ten matches—and was the first man to coach and captain the Kangaroos on their 1965 New Zealand tour . After retiring as a player, Walsh transitioned to coaching the Parramatta Eels in 1971–72 before forging a respected career as a hard‑hitting rugby league columnist with the Daily Telegraph, where his insights and plain‑spoken style reached a new generation of fans . Following a long illness, “Abdul” Walsh passed away on 4 April 2013 at the age of 80, leaving a legacy enshrined in Australia’s rugby league pantheon and commemorated by his 2008 inclusion among Australia’s 100 Greatest Players .

Willie Halaifonua

Tongan‑born Takapuna club rugby player Viliami “Willie” Halaifonua, 27, tragically died in Auckland City Hospital on Tuesday night, July 23, 2013, after sustaining a fatal brain bleed during a premier division match the previous Saturday. Playing against Massey at the Onewa Domain, Halaifonua had been named Player of the Day moments before a clash of heads with an opposing forward left him unconscious on the field; team members and match officials immediately recognized the severity of his condition and called for urgent medical assistance . He was rushed to hospital, where neurosurgeons performed emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, but despite their best efforts he succumbed to his injuries surrounded by his partner, their two young children, and close family . A proud father and beloved “Big Willie” to friends, Halaifonua had overcome earlier health and fitness challenges to become a cornerstone of the Takapuna side, and his sudden collapse has profoundly shaken his club and the wider New Zealand rugby community . In the days following his death, the Takapuna Rugby Football Club, in conjunction with the New Zealand Rugby Foundation, established the “Willie Halaifonua Trust” to provide financial support to his partner and children and to honor his legacy of sportsmanship and devotion to family . Tributes poured in from teammates, opponents, and sporting luminaries alike, underscoring the depth of loss felt across the rugby fraternity.

Louis Luyt

Dr Louis Luyt, born Oswald Louis Petrus Poley on 18 June 1932 in Britstown in the Karoo, rose from modest farm‐to‐farm fertiliser clerk to become one of South African rugby’s most influential—and controversial—figures before his death on 1 February 2013 in Durban, KwaZulu‐Natal at age 80 . As a young man he represented and even captained the Orange Free State as a lock, laying the groundwork for his later domination of the sport’s administration . After amassing his fortune through Triomf Fertiliser and Luyt Breweries, he swept into rugby administration by assuming the Transvaal Rugby Union presidency in 1989 and was elected President of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) in March 1994 . Luyt famously played a pivotal role in negotiating the Springboks’ return to international competition and in bringing—and hosting—the 1995 Rugby World Cup to South Africa, an achievement that symbolized national unity in the post‐apartheid era . Yet his autocratic style sparked fierce backlash: in 1992 he provoked the ANC by playing only the Afrikaans section of the national anthem at Ellis Park , and in 1998 he escalated tensions by summoning President Nelson Mandela to testify in a bid to block a government inquiry into rugby, earning the ire of colleagues and a subsequent motion of no confidence . After resigning later that year, Luyt briefly led the Federal Alliance party, contesting the 1999 elections before fading from the political scene. He passed away at home after a long illness, leaving behind his wife Adri and their four children.