by Our Sports Desk

Rugby League players, fans and officials came together yesterday to raise in excess of £10,000 to support the family of Danny Jones, the Keighley player who died on Sunday of a suspected cardiac arrest.

The 29-year-old Wales international was taken off four minutes into Sunday’s game at London Skolars after feeling unwell. He collapsed at the side of the field, an air ambulance was called and he was taken by road to the Royal Free Hospital. Extensive efforts failed to resuscitate him.

Jones leaves behind wife Liz and five-month-old twins.

The sport’s Benevolent Fund has immediately started its fundraising mission to help Jones’s family cope with the consequences — joined by Leigh Centurions owner Derek Beaumont who separately pledged £2,000 and challenged other club owners to do the same.

Within three hours of being launched, the fund’s total stood at over £8,000, with fellow rugby league players among the donors. That number was set to continue growing.

The RFL Benevolent Fund was set up with the intention of “helping players who suffer life-changing accidents” and has done notable work with a number of players to have been seriously injured or worse.

Keighley opened the gates of their Cougar Park stadium to allow mourners to leave tributes and Twitter pictures showed shirts being laid from several clubs, including as far afield as Catalans Dragons.

Keighley confirmed the tragic news regarding Jones on Sunday evening.

“Danny was much loved and highly respected by all at the club and in rugby league,” they said of the goal-kicking full-back.

“He was the life and soul in the dressing room, a natural leader, a true professional and irreplaceable. He achieved over 1,000 points and 150 appearances for Keighley Cougars and he will be sorely missed. We are devastated.

“Our hearts go out to Liz, his children and his family.”

Winning 12 caps for Wales, Jones spent his club career with Keighley and hometown club Halifax, although the standout moment came when he represented Wales in the 2013 World Cup, facing the Cook Islands in Neath.