A dad collapsed and died after playing for his town's rugby team.

Dave Hyde, 29, was being mourned in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, after he collapsed in the changing rooms following a match on Saturday.

Dave - married to Katherine and dad to a young son, Tore - was flown by air ambulance to hospital but doctors could not save him.

He was the second player from his club to suffer the tragic fate in four years.

The second row forward collapsed after Saturday's National League 2 South division game against Old Albanians in St Albans, Herts, and died in hospital overnight.

Henley chairman Chris Nixon announced on Sunday: "It is with immense sadness that I have to inform you of the tragic loss of Dave Hyde, who collapsed after our game with Old Albanian yesterday.

Dave collapsed in the changing rooms and died after the game (
Image:
@Witney RFC/Twitter)

"He passed away late last night in hospital.

"Our thoughts go out to his wife Katherine, his young son, close family and all his friends within our club.

"Dave was a gentle giant, strong family man, great friend to many and a much loved and highly respected member of our club. He will be so greatly missed."

Witney Rugby Football Club also shared a touching tribute to their former player.

The club tweeted: "It’s with incredible sadness that we notify you of the tragic loss of former player, Dave Hyde ,who collapsed after his game for Henley yesterday.

"He passed away last night in hospital. All our love & thoughts are with his wife Katherine, his son Tore, & all his family & friends."

Henley lost the game 25-19 in front of a crowd of 300 - it was only when the players trooped off the pitch at the final whistle to have a shower that Dave collapsed.

His team mates rushed to help him and the air ambulance was called, but the desperate race to save him failed.

In January 2018 another Henley Hawks player, dad-of-two Simon Priestley, 46, collapsed and died in front of his wife Julie and shocked team mates in a match against High Wycombe, Bucks.

He fell to the ground just before half-time as he captained Henley Rugby Club's fourth team on Saturday, January 6, 2018.

The dad-of-two's teammates, opponents and a club physio were among those who desperately tried to save his life before he was pronounced dead at hospital.

His wife Julie was watching the match as a spectator when the tragedy unfolded as a defibrillator was used on the pitch in an attempt to revive him.

He died shortly after arriving at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

Simon, who played at fly-half, was born in Northern Ireland and lived in the US where he met Julie before the couple settled in Henley-on-Thames.

He had lived in Henley for 18 years and had been a member of the rugby club for all but one of those.