Thousands Raise Cash For Jones

More than £50,000 has been raised for the family of Wales Rugby League Star Danny Jones.

The 29-year-old died on Sunday after collapsing on the pitch from a suspected heart attack, just a few minutes into a match.

He was treated by the match doctor and paramedics before being taken to hospital, but despite efforts to bring him around, he sadly died.

The dad of two 5-month-old twins had played for the Wales National Team and scored more than 1000 points for his club the Keighley Cougars.

Tributes have poured in for the number 6, with clubs across the UK posting messages on social media and sending shirts to the club ground.

The Keighley Cougars described him as the "life and soul of the dressing room" and have called Jones "irreplaceable".

The club say they're going to rename their main stand "The Danny Jones Stand" and have asked the Rugby Football League to officially allow them to retire the number 6 jersey.

There were also talks of calling off their next match on Sunday, but say it's going ahead at the request of the player’s family.

Thousands of people have also been donating to a fund set up for his wife and children.

There are now calls for compulsory heart screenings.

There are claims that checks take place in Super League rugby, but they aren’t mandatory in the second and third tiers of the game.

Danny Jones is the second Rugby League player in just over six years to die after collapsing during a match.

In 2009, 20-year-old Leon Walker fell ill during a Wildcats reserve game with Celtic Crusaders in Maesteg.

 Six months before that, Wakefield's Cook Island international Adam Watene died after collapsing during a training session.

Players and coaches say heart screenings should be mandatory now in the Championship.