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Former England and Wasps rugby union star Tom Voyce is tragically believed to have died after apparently attempting to cross a flood-swollen river in his automotive throughout Storm Darragh.
Northumbria Police stated the 43-year-old is believed to have gone into the River Aln close to Alnwick, Northumberland.
The automotive was recovered, however officers didn’t discover Voyce, although police have now confirmed on Thursday {that a} physique had been discovered within the seek for the ex-England participant. Identification is but to happen, although Voyce’s subsequent of kin have been knowledgeable.
Police say Voyce was trying to cross Abberwick Ford in his automotive which was then pulled together with the present of the river, which had been operating excessive as a consequence of extreme climate in Storm Darragh. It’s believed he was swept away whereas trying to flee and has sadly died, with searches persevering with into Wednesday.
The rugby group has rallied round Voyce’s family members, with plenty of on-line messages posted expressing sympathy and unhappiness concerning the scenario.
So who’s the favored former winger? Right here’s the whole lot it’s good to know:
Tom Voyce was born on 5 January 1981 in Truro, Cornwall, and grew up enjoying rugby for Penryn RFC and Truro RFC earlier than leaving Cornwall on the age of 16 to hitch Tub.
He labored his approach by means of the membership’s youth and second groups earlier than making his debut for the primary group as a 19-year-old in 2000. Comfy as both a winger or full again, he performed for Tub for 3 years and scored 15 tries in 55 appearances.
On the identical time, he got here on to the England radar, first establishing himself within the Beneath-21 aspect earlier than making his senior England debut on the age of simply 20 on the tour to North America in 2001, coming off the bench through the 48-19 win over USA in San Diego.
Voyce would go on to win 9 England caps between 2001 and 2006, scoring three tries, with two of these coming in opposition to Samoa throughout his first Take a look at look at Twickenham in 2005.
He began video games in opposition to New Zealand and Australia on the 2004 summer time tour and was chosen for each match of the 2006 Six Nations, a mix of begins and appearances from the bench as the complete again jersey vacillated between him and Josh Lewsey. England gained two and misplaced three video games of that Championship as they completed fourth within the desk for the second 12 months in a row.
That summer time, he was chosen for the tour to Australia however England have been thumped 34-3 by the Wallabies within the first Take a look at in Sydney and Voyce was closely criticised for his efficiency on the wing. It could be his last worldwide look, on the age of 25.
“One recreation appeared to spoil the whole lot I had achieved,” Voyce later, candidly, admitted in an interview. “I used to be going by means of a divorce on the time, which I didn’t make public. I used to be banging my head in opposition to a brick wall attempting to determine what had occurred and what I wished from the game.”
Issues have been going a lot better at membership stage, nevertheless, having moved from Tub to Wasps in 2003 and rapidly establishing himself as a first-team common.
He helped Wasps win the Premiership title at Twickenham in every of his first two seasons with the Adams Park outfit – scoring 15 tries in 34 appearances within the 2003-04 marketing campaign, the place in addition they gained the Heineken Cup in a season for the ages.
The next 12 months, he scored a attempt within the Premiership last as Leicester Tigers have been dispatched for Wasps’s third straight title and he additionally scored the quickest attempt in Premiership historical past in November 2004. Having gathered a free ball from kick-off, Voyce scooted in underneath the posts in simply 9.63 seconds in opposition to Harlequins, beating Martin Corry’s earlier document by 14 seconds.
Voyce gained a second Heineken Cup with Wasps in 2007, as Leicester have been overwhelmed 25-9 in an all-English last, and he then claimed a 3rd Premiership title on the finish of the 2007-08 marketing campaign.
His six-year stint with Wasps got here to an finish in 2009 after scoring 43 tries in 124 appearances and he moved again to the south west with Gloucester for a three-season spell that included successful the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2011.
One last season {of professional} rugby got here with London Welsh in 2012-13 earlier than he retired from the game on the age of 32.
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio paid tribute to Voyce, having frolicked with him at Wasps and the nationwide group. Dallaglio skilled his family tragedy when sister Francesca was killed within the 1989 Marchioness catastrophe on the Thames when a ship carrying party-goers collided with a dredger.
“It’s essentially the most horrific information and all I’d say at this juncture is that please allow us to all respect Tom’s household and their struggling proper now and preserve them in all our ideas,” Dallaghlio stated.
“Having skilled the identical feelings myself when Francesca was lacking and presumed useless. Her physique wasn’t recovered for 4 days after the marchioness sank. It’s simply such a tragedy. Sending all my love x.”
Whereas former England colleague Andy Goode added: “So unhappy to listen to of the suspected lack of my outdated group mate Tom Voyce, he was an important bloke who I spent many enjoyable occasions with. RIP mate you’ll be missed Voycey.”
And Freddie Burns, the previous England and Gloucester fly half, posted on social media: “My ideas are with all of Voycey’s household and pals. He was my gymnasium accomplice within the very early days at Gloucester and taught me a lot. Will without end be grateful.”
Voyce started working in banking following his retirement from rugby. A physique has now been found within the seek for the 43-year-old, having gone lacking throughout Storm Darragh.
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The Unbiased
#Tom #Voyce #Rugby #world #mourns #loss #England #star #shone #trophyladen #Wasps #run
Luke Baker , 2024-12-12 16:13:00
