Rugby: Mackay farewelled at emotional service

SYDNEY - Brumbies rugby union player Shawn Mackay has been remembered as caring and fun-loving and a determined go-getter at his funeral in Sydney.

Close to a thousand mourners packed into and outside the Mary Immaculate Church in Waverley in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Wednesday morning for an emotional two-hour service.

Mackay died last week aged 26 after being hit by a car in Durban late last month.

Mourners included ARU chief John O'Neill, past and present Wallabies, the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs squads as well as players from the national sevens team which Mackay captained and the Australian women's sevens squad which he coached to World Cup glory in Dubai in March.

Before playing for Randwick, the Waratahs and Brumbies, Mackay also spent several seasons in the NRL with the Roosters, fulfilling his dream to follow in the footsteps of his father John, who played for the club in the 1970s and '80s.

A host of his former Roosters teammates, including Chris Flannery, who flew back from England - where he plays in the Super League - also attended the service, as did NRL auditor Ian Schubert and judiciary panelist Royce Ayliffe, ex-teammates of Mackay's father.

Mackay's younger brother Matt and lifelong friend and former Wallabies vice-captain Morgan Turinui delivered touching eulogies .

About 150 people also attended a memorial service for Mackay at Christopher Cathedral in Canberra which was held simultaneously on Wednesday.

Mackay is survived by his father, mother Leonie, Matt and sister Kristy, who issued a family statement to express their gratitude to the Australian rugby community.

"Rugby was always a passion of Shawn's and the fact he was able to play professional football ensured that he lived and died a very happy man," the statement read.

"Shawn would have been humbled to have seen the tributes that were paid to him across the Super 14 competition over the weekend, and would have been extremely proud to see his Brumbies perform the way they did (with a win) against the Stormers.

"We were relieved to be able to communicate with Shawn how much we loved him and he to us."

- AAP