Selby Rugby Union’s First XV Captain, Tom Edwards, died suddenly on Thursday November 17 at age 29.
Tom’s cause of death has not been revealed.
Tom was described as “tough,” “courageous,” “considerate,” and “caring” by Mark Pearson, Selby’s Director of Rugby.
The club said in a statement: “Selby RUFC is deeply saddened to inform you of the sudden passing of 1st XV captain Tom Edwards. Tom, aged 29, passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning. Tom was popular and well-loved across all ages within the club. He will be sadly missed.”
“Following this tragic news all senior adult fixtures scheduled to be played today, Saturday 19 November 2022 are cancelled.”
“As you will appreciate, this is a time of great distress to the families of Tom and his fiancée and we are sure your thoughts and prayers are with them in their time of great loss.”
York Press reported:
Club president, Doug Skelton, said that at Selby RUFC everyone loved Tom and that he was a very popular young man who always had time for everyone else. As Selby Club Captain, he would be as comfortable sitting chatting with some of the older members as he was putting an arm around the new younger players to give words of encouragement when they made their 1st XV debut. He was a leader and much loved team mate.
Doug said: “Tom was a warrior and a gentleman and someone who was everyone’s friend. We will all miss him.”
Selby is a family rugby club and the club was all the richer for Tom and the Edwards family being part of it.
Tom’s father said that Tom’s passing has left massive hole in their hearts.
Tom was a member of the Wetherby RUFC before joining Selby RUFC.
“Tom was extremely popular and well-loved at Wetherby,” Jonathan Hirst, chairman of Wetherby RUFC, said in a statement.
“He was a brilliant rugby player, a fantastic teammate and will be sorely missed. Tom came through the junior section at Wetherby before playing over 150 games for our first XV, captaining the side on several occasions.
“Tom was a figurehead of the all-conquering team of 2014/15 and achieved back-to-back promotions from Yorkshire 4 to Yorkshire 2, winning the Yorkshire silver trophy with Wetherby in 2015. Tom’s favourite saying before every game will never be forgotten: “Let’s start getting fizzy now boys!””
