Rugby World Mourns The Loss Of Shawn Mackay

The World Rugby community, and Australian rugby in particular, were in mourning on Monday upon receiving the news that rising star Shawn Mackay had passed away in Durban, South Africa. He suffered an infection while in a coma, suffered after he was knocked down by an armed response vehicle on his way back to the team hotel.

Mackay was in the republic as a member of the ACT Brumbies team playing in the Super 14 competition, and was returning back after a night off at a local nightclub when the accident occurred.

Mackay was a rising star for the Brumbies and was the Australian Sevens captain previously.

He was an open-side flanker marked for future Wallaby tours, and was a product of Waverly College and the Randwick Club in Sydney.

Tributes have come in from across the globe, and from all corners of the game.

Mackay had coached the World Cup winning Australian Women's Sevens team in their qualifiers for the World Cup, and left a deep mark wherever he went.

When I first read the news of his passing, I felt a moment of loss, despite not knowing him personally.

Rugby, more than most sports, has a very deep sense of belonging no matter what level you play, from the lowest grades to the professional level.

Thoughts of another loss to the rugby community prompted this writer to think of the teammates he lost in the 2002 Bali bombings.

The members of the SCC on tour that weekend were not professional players playing in a professional competition, merely working professionals who loved their rugby, and the social aspect which Asian tours have come to represent.

Nevertheless, the loss of a fellow player brings to mind how fragile human life is, and how those who play sport should always treasure their teammates.

Fans alike should always remember that a game is a game, and athletes too are human, no matter what their superhuman achievements are in the game.