A 17-year-old amateur rugby player has died after suffering an on-field injury during a match in France. Clea Menier, a back row for Union du Bassin Marmandais, died after what her club described as an "accident" during an under-18s match against Agen Agglo Rugby on Saturday.
After receiving medical attention on the field, the teenager was taken to Pellegrin Hospital in Bordeaux, where she died from her injuries. Neither the club nor the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has disclosed the nature of her injury.
The club said it learned of Clea's death with "immense sadness and indescribable pain" and paid tribute to the emergency services who treated her. "We are also thinking of her loved ones and friends, whose immense pain we share, as well as her team-mates, coaches, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her," it said. "This is a terrible ordeal for our club. We will get through it together."
The FFR said the loss had "deeply shaken the entire rugby family" and expressed its full support and solidarity to Clea's family, loved ones, team-mates and coaches. It added that every effort would be made to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing