Rugby club raises over £1,000 in one hour for family of player who died after match

A fundraiser launched by Cwmllynfell RFC for the family of a rugby player who died after a match has raised more than £1,000 in less than an hour.

Alex Evans was playing for the rugby club against Crynant RFC at their home ground of Parc y Bryn in Neath Port Talbot when he collapsed around 3pm on Saturday afternoon .

The fundraiser organised by Gareth Evans, the secretary of the club, for his family has already raised over £1,000, with 38 people donating.

Gareth Evans said Alex Evans “always had a smile on his face”.

“He always had time for you and always had that smile on his face,” he told the BBC.

In a social media post, Cwmllynfell RFC said: “There are words and there are no words to describe today. We have lost a brother on the field and it is hurting so much.

“RIP Alex. The whole club and community are shocked and saddened. Fly high brother… fly high.”

The Welsh Rugby Union offered their “deepest condolences” to his family, friends and teammates. World Rugby also responded to pay tribute.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and teammates of Alex and to everyone associated with Cwmllynfell RFC

💙🖤💙🖤💙

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 22, 2021

Club captain Chris Balfe described Evans as ‘one in a million’, writing on the club’s Facebook page: “We went out today as a team of mates and we came off the field losing a brother.

“We lost one of the boys who epitomised what Cwm was about. A fiercely loyal person who’d give it all on the field and in life. To me, Alex sums up what playing rugby is about a man who played for the badge and his mates week in week out.

“I know rugby is irrelevant in moments like this but I also know Jew loved his club and I want him and his family to know his club loved him.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called at 3pm to reports of a person needing urgent medical attention.

“We responded with one rapid response vehicle, two emergency ambulances and one vehicle from the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service,” they said.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the fundraiser can do so here.