10 Rugby Stars Who Overcame Personal Tragedies to Carry on Playing

Just today, Caleb Clarke choked back the tears as he spoke about his grandfather dying just hours before his Blues side beat the Highlanders 27-24 in Auckland this morning (UK time).

Looking back in recent years, here are nine occasions where stars have overcome such times and continued to play the game we all love...

Centre Siale Piutau took to the field in Bristol’s crucial west country derby with Bath at Twickenham in April 2019 after hearing that morning sister Ema, a defence lawyer from Auckland, had died following a short illness. Charles, despite his injury, also attended the game to cheer on his teammates.

The Leinster lock revealed his heartbreak over the death of his infant daughter Stella on September 30, 2016. A statement on the club's website said the episode had been a "nightmare" for Triggs and his partner Mikala and that "our hearts are broken". He bravely returned to the Leinster team before hanging up his boots.

The Palestinian refugee only started playing rugby in his teens but went on to represent England students. Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to parents who are both refugees from the Gaza strip it wasn’t until age four that Mustafa moved to the UK. 

In 2009 Moore revealed in his autobiography Beware of the Dog that he had been sexually abused as a child by a churchgoing friend of his parents and also his struggle to come to terms with his abandonment by his birth mother. His book would go on to win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2010. Despite his tough start to life, Moore built a reputation as one of the hardest players of the amateur era, the snarling ‘Pitbull’ packing down as England’s hooker in 64 Tests.

Dallaglio's 19-year-old sister, Francesca, a ballerina, was the youngest of 51 people to die in the Marchioness disaster in 1989, when the pleasure boat Marchioness, which played host to a private birthday party, sank after being hit by the dredger Bowbelle. The back-rower later revealed he used the emotions prompted by his elder sister's death during every game.

In November 2000, his father Peter Cohen, brother of English World Cup winning football player George Cohen, was fatally injured while protecting an attack victim at the Eternity nightclub in Northampton, which he Cohen managed. He died a month later from head injuries sustained in the assault He then returned to the rugby field and was a member of the England national team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

After the birth of daughter Geena in 1995, Davies' wife Karen was diagnosed with cancer. In need of family support, and as rugby union had turned professional, Davies went back to South Wales and signed to play for Cardiff RFC. He bravely played on but she sadly died a year later.

Greenwood dedicated his World Cup winner's medal to the memory of his baby son, Freddie, who died shortly after being born in 2002. The centre believed he shouldn't be singled out as having overcome personal tragedy to be part of the successful England squad, but to us his bravery is unquestionable.

Thorne, who won 10 caps for the All Blacks between 1967 and 1960, was adopted at birth in an adoption privately arranged by his grandfather. He described learning of his adoption at age 21 as “a devastating experience.” but still went onto have a stellar career.

The great uncle of England rugby star was battered to death over a cigarette as he walked home to celebrate Father's Day.

Dad of one Francis Farrell, 56, was left to die in a pool of blood by 23-year old David Horner who had been earlier pestering passers-by for a smoke.

Owen, who was 21 at the time, managed to continue his playing career for club and country throughout the investigation and subsequent court case.