A player involved in a festival match celebrating the centenary of one of New Zealand’s smallest rugby clubs has died this morning after an on-field incident.
The player collapsed during the match between Ruatoria City's 2022 squad and a Ruatoria Centennial XV.
Despite extensive efforts to save him the player was pronounced dead at the scene with the match abandoned and a karakia sung as his body was removed from the pitch.
![Stunned players formed a guard as paramedics tended to a rugby player who collapsed during a match in Ruatoria this morning. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ZWKCDWH4TWKOCNOPJORPKFFRME.jpg?auth=cc9425b61e152949e7b452b4895b8250f4ca93a7fad162f712162e63484512ef&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
A spectator said players remained around their mate's body, as they took turns to pay their respects.