Loughborough College will this week pay their respects at the funeral for young rugby player and student Ronan Costello.
Head of Sport Helen Van Aardt and tutor Rob Payne will attend the service to be held on Friday at St Patrick’s Church in Huddersfield. Alongside them will be students Ethan Priest, Jacob Jones and Tom Higgins from the RFL Midland Academy based at Loughborough College.
Ethan, Jacob and Tom were all at the match on Saturday 11 June when Huddersfield Giants academy player Ronan was injured during an Under 19’s game for the side against the Salford City Reds.
The 17 year old centre was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary and died three days later.
Heather MacDonald, Chief Executive and Principal at Loughborough College said: “We were devastated to hear Ronan Costello was in a critical condition following Saturday’s accident and were deeply saddened today to receive the tragic news that Ronan had passed away.
“Our sympathy goes out to Ronan’s family and our thoughts are with his teammates and his friends at such a difficult time.”
The College has offered counseling to students or staff in need and since the accident has been in contact with Ronan’s family and with the professional rugby league club, who it has worked with for five years.
Ronan was one of 22 players from Huddersfield’s academy currently with the College.
Loughborough College’s Rob Payne is progress tutor for the young Huddersfield players and worked closely with Ronan.
“With the passing of Ronan happening under such tragic circumstances, it deeply saddened all that knew him personally, as well as those who were working with his rugby and education development.
“Loughborough College has lost an exceptional student who was destined to excel in his studies with us.
“We will not only be attending the funeral to mourn the loss of a student but to also show our respects to his family, friends and the club of Huddersfield Giants, whom we have worked very closely with over the years and will continue to do so.
“All our learners mean a lot to us at Loughborough College and Ronan is very much in our thoughts.”
Ronan’s funeral service will be followed by a private family burial. A wake will be held at Brighouse Sports Club, Brighouse after the service in celebration of Ronan’s life.
Ronan lived in Huddersfield and had successful spells at Brighouse Rangers and Lindley Swifts, where he played junior rugby for eight years before signing with the Giants last year.
Thousands of rugby fans paid tribute to Ronan at games played over the course of last weekend, with a minute’s applause.
Friends of Ronan have organised a fundraising appeal in his memory. His parents, Martin and Nichola, have asked that all the money donated in support of Ronan be given to the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund which supplies defibrillators to all rugby league clubs.
Danny was a Keighley Cougars player who died after a game. There will be a collection at Ronan’s funeral for the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Headway charities.
Picture courtesy SWNS