Life is a fleeting thing, and often it can be robbed from those who have only just begun to live it or are in the prime of it.
And in the case of rugby players, you might think that for elite athletes, physical specimens at their peak and arguably the pinnacle of human athleticism, you might think that they have no fears of dying young.
Well sadly, it can happen to anyone, and it is a tragedy when it does.
From sudden illnesses to getting caught up in dreadful circumstances, here are some footballers who sadly left us far too young.
1. Dan Vickerman, aged 37
It is understood that rugby great Vickerman took his own life in his Sydney family home in February 2017, and is survived by his wife Sarah and two young sons.
The Cape Town-born lock played 63 Tests for the Wallabies between 2002 and 2011, before his retirement from the game in 2012 with a persistent injury problem.
The former Brumbies and Waratahs player had been working in commercial real estate since calling time on his playing career.
He remained involved in the game through his work for the Rugby Union Players’ Association.
2. Jonah Lomu, aged 40
One of the finest rugby union players to have graced the game and a favourite son of New Zealand, Jonah Lomu died of cardiac arrest in November 2015. The powerhouse died at his home in Auckland surrounded by family.
The former All Blacks winger, whose imposing physique and often brutal running game provoked in opponents equal amounts of admiration and fear, had suffered from health problems since calling time on his playing career in 2002 due to a rare kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2004 and had been on dialysis treatment for the next decade.
Lomu played in 63 Tests for New Zealand after making his debut in 1994. He scored 37 tries, including one that arguably defined his career – a bullocking rampage through, not past, several England players at the 1995 World Cup. His effort was later voted the greatest in World Cup history.
3. Joost van der Westhuizen - 45
The former South Africa captain died aged 45 in February 2017, six years after he was diagnosed with the debilitating motor neurone disease.
Van der Westhuizen won the World Cup with the Springboks in 1995. Regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves in history, he won 89 international caps between 1993 and 2003, scoring 38 tries. He captained the Springboks for four years, including at the 1999 World Cup, before his retirement in 2003.
4. Jerry Collins, aged 34
The former New Zealand flanker and his wife Alana Madill have died in a car crash in France at the age of 34, in June 2015.
Collins won 48 caps for the All Blacks having made his debut in 2001, scoring five tries during a career that saw him become one of the most feared back-row players on the pitch due to his sheer strength and physicality.
He also featured in the New Zealand side that thrashed the British and Irish Lions in 2005, and was the cousin of former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.
5. Kurtis Haiu, aged 31
The former Auckland and Blues rugby player Kurtis Haiu has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer in April 2016.
Haiu was in 2011 diagnosed with a Ewings Sarcoma in his rib, a rare and lethal form of bone cancer. The lock had been suffering rib pain for several months but initially attributed it to a rugby injury.
The pain, however, became more frequent and further tests revealed a lesion on his eighth rib and caused Haiu to take indefinite leave from rugby.
The disease eventually ended his promising career and, after undergoing intensive chemotherapy, he decided to cease conventional treatment due to the extreme side-effects. He also sought alternative treatment in Switzerland but was unable to overcome the disease.
6. Dylan Mika, aged 45
Mika, who played seven tests for the All Blacks and two for Samoa, died of a heart attack in March 2018.
Mika was New Zealand-born but played his first two internationals for Samoa, in 1994. He stood down for three years to enable him to be eligible for selection for the All Blacks and played seven tests as a loose forward for New Zealand – all in 1999.
His first test as an All Black was against Samoa, who were captained by his cousin, Pat Lam. He gained selection in the World Cup squad, starting in the match against Italy and scoring a try. He also came on as a replacement against South Africa in the plate match.
7. Ian Williams, aged 27
The Doncaster prop Ian Williams died at the age of 27 after he collapsed at training in February 2018.
Williams, who joined Doncaster from nearby Rotherham the previous summer, collapsed at the club’s Castle Park ground and could not be resuscitated.
The Oxford graduate had made six appearances for the Knights since his arrival.
8. Steve Begley, aged 42
He was left drowning for 20 minutes before he was pulled from the water during a triathlon, an inquest learned in May 2018.
Begley, who played for Glasgow Hawks and Glasgow Accies in the 1990s, died during the Singapore Triathlon relay in September 2017.
His family claim the closest lifeguard on duty was elsewhere, attending another injured competitor.
An inquest in Singapore has been looking into the death.
9. Paul Van-Zandvliet, aged 50
The dad-of-five, who played for Newcastle Falcons, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in early 2016 and died in June 2017. The 50-year-old also had cancer of the kidneys and liver.
He spent retirement passing on his experience to youngsters and coaches at North Shields, Percy Park and Whitley Bay Rockliff Under-15s.
10. Sione Lauaki, aged 35
The All Blacks forward died overnight at the age of 35 in February 2017.
Lauaki's cause of death was not immediately revealed but the Tonga-born Lauaki had been diagnosed with heart and kidney problems in 2012.
The Tonga-born flanker or number eight won 17 Test caps for the All Blacks between 2005 and 2008.
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