By Caryn Dolley
Moments after saying he felt dizzy after a rugby match which his team won a Hamilton Rugby Club player collapsed in the changing room and died in front of his team mates.
Paramedics were unable to revive Johnny Lawrence, 22, and it was suspected he had a heart attack.
Bruce Little, Hamiltons' manager, said on Sunday that Lawrence's team mates were devastated. The team had played Northlink College at Green Point and had been in a celebratory mood after their 10-3 win.
Lawrence had said he felt dizzy.
"He went into the changing room," Little said.
"There he had a fit and his heart stopped beating. Paramedics couldn't get it to start again.
"He seemed fine during the match but had 'flu the week before so the doctor suspects all the running around might have been a strain on his heart.
"It's speculation that he had a heart attack and an autopsy will, of course, be done."
Little said Lawrence's sister was at the match and became hysterical when she heard what had happened to her brother.
"After the short celebrations everything became sombre," he added. "All the players were devastated and crying. It came as a shock."
Lawrence had been playing for the team for about two years as prop.