THE chairman of Evesham Rugby Football Club David Summerfield has paid tribute to “try machine” and “wonderful man” Jack Jeffery following the Evesham player’s tragic death last weekend.

Jeffery was injured scoring a try in last Saturday’s Midlands Two West South match at Berkswell & Balsall and he later died in Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

Evesham have postponed all senior rugby this weekend but chairman Summerfield confirmed the junior section will go ahead with fixtures and training on Sunday morning, when a a minute’s applause will be held at the club.

Many clubs and the wider rugby community have come forward with their messages of support and Summerfield wished to express his own gratitude.

“The reaction from the rugby community and beyond and from all levels of the game has been incredible.

“We have had over 750,000 views on social media and the news has reached many parts of the world.

Summerfield also spoke fondly of the “always smiling” Jeffrey.

“He was such a lovely, committed, loyal young man. His love of rugby and a perhaps a Guinness was everything to him whether watching or playing,” he added.

“One thing that always stood out - whenever you saw pictures of him whether playing or not, he was always smiling.

“A wonderful man, surrounded by a wonderful close family.

“He was extremely active and healthy and probably had the fastest wheels at the club by some distance. All our supporters knew if he had the ball in his hands the whitewash was likely to be crossed and whenever he scored the smile just got bigger.”