Rugby: Brumbies shocked at news of teammate's death

Brumbies coach Andy Friend had the difficult task of breaking the news of Shawn Mackay's death to his teammates when they landed at Sydney Airport on Monday afternoon.

The Brumbies Super 14 rugby squad was flying home from South Africa when 26-year-old forward Mackay died in a Durban hospital just over a week after suffering multiple injuries when struck by a car.

Friend was contacted and told of his death while in the air and assembled his players to break the news to them when they arrived in Sydney.

Friend emerged briefly and alone from immigration to speak to the waiting media.

"It is the worst possible news," Friend said.

"It's fair to say that we are all in shock and we have taken the news very, very hard.

"When we left South Africa we all hoped that Macca would recover quickly and would be joining us home in a matter of weeks.

"To hear that the blood infection has led to a cardiac arrest and has taken his life is very hard for us to reconcile.

"Shawn Mackay was an outstanding person. When we recruited Macca to the Brumbies we did so for his character as much as for his outstanding rugby skills.

"He was generous, he was warm, he was funny and an enthusiastic player.

"He had the respect of everybody at the Brumbies and everybody in Australian rugby.

"His passing is a tragedy.

"On behalf of the Brumbies I would like to say to Shawn's family and his partner Trish, we share your loss and our love and our prayers are with you as we seek to come to terms with his passing."

Mackay had been in hospital, critically ill with multiple injuries, since the early hours of March 29 when he was hit by an armed response car in a Durban street.

Mackay had shown some positive signs after being brought out of a medically induced coma and he underwent spinal surgery.

But he developed an infection in his bloodstream and his condition deteriorated rapidly.

The players in Canberra who did not travel to South Africa were informed of Mackay's death about noon

"After his surgery Shawn contracted an infection in his bloodstream," said Brumbies CEO Andrew Fagan.

"He deteriorated rapidly and suffered a cardiac arrest from which he didn't recover.

"It's devastating news for his family and for all of the Brumbies community.

"Our thoughts and those of the players are with his family at this most difficult time."

The accident occurred about 4.15am Durban time when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies were leaving a nightclub, having wound down after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks the previous evening.

Mackay was admitted to St Augustine's hospital in Durban with a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a fractured skull as well as a broken leg and multiple facial fractures.

Mackay's parents, John and Leonie, and girlfriend Trish flew to South Africa on Tuesday to be by his side.

From Sydney club Randwick, Mackay was a hard-running 104-kilogram, 195-centimetre backrower or lock who also had the pace and skill to be a regular for Australia on the international Sevens circuit for several years.

He made his Super 14 rugby debut with the NSW Waratahs in 2006, against the Brumbies, and played six games for his home state before switching to the Brumbies this season.

He played in two games this Super 14 season, both on the South African tour, coming off the bench against the Lions in Johannesburg and against the Sharks the night before he was struck by the car.

- AAP