New Milton Rugby Club mourns for ‘loveable chap’ (From Daily Echo)

New Milton Rugby Club mourns for ‘loveable chap’

1:17pm Friday 5th December 2008 in

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a Hampshire rugby player who has been found dead at his home.

David Stone, pictured, was a popular member of New Milton Rugby Club and was regarded as a player with a bright future.

Mr Stone, 27, was found dead in bed at his house in New Milton and may have died in his sleep.

Police are waiting for postmortem results but say they are not treating his death as suspicious.

Rugby club captain Dave Ewen said: “David was a well-liked lad who had come up through the ranks. He was a promising player with a lot of potential.”

Mr Ewen said Mr Stone was injured playing rugby about six weeks ago but still went to the ground to cheer on his teammates from the touchline.

His death is the second tragedy to hit the club in just three weeks.

Dominic Wood, 49, of Brockenhurst, who served behind the bar, was found dead in his car in a New Forest car park last month.

Mr Ewen added: “David’s death is devastating news, especially coming so soon after what happened to Dom. He will be a great loss and our thoughts are with his family.

Mr Stone, known as “Stoner”, was a former pupil of Priestlands School in Lymington.

Chris Rodway, a PE teacher at the school, said: “David was an excellent all-rounder who specialised in rugby. He was a strong and dynamic player who represented the school 1st XV and also attended trials for Hampshire RFU.”

Fellow rugby player Lee Peart said: “He was a loveable chap – a really outgoing person who was always up for a laugh.”

Mr Stone’s parents, who live in Arnewood Bridge Road, Sway, were too upset to talk about the tragedy.