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Home / New Zealand

Rugby match cancelled out of respect for crash victims

Kurt Bayer
By Kurt Bayer
South Island Head of News·NZME.·
15 May, 2015 12:45 AM3 mins to read

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Teammates described Jarrad Blackler as 'the ultimate rugby player'. Photo / Supplied

Teammates described Jarrad Blackler as 'the ultimate rugby player'. Photo / Supplied

Richie McCaw's old rugby club has cancelled tomorrow's match in honour of a clubmate killed in a horror crash last weekend that has left another player fighting for his life and devastated the tight-knit North Otago community.

Jarrad Ethan Blackler, 23, was travelling in a Toyota Landcruiser with five teammates and supporters associated with Kurow Rugby Club when it left the road.

The popular clubman from Waitaki died when the vehicle rolled several times.

A 25-year-old is in a critical condition at Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.

It's understood that his family has travelled from the UK to be by his bedside.

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A 22-year-old woman injured in the smash has been discharged from Christchurch Hospital, while a 22-year-old man is in a stable condition at the city's Burwood Hospital.

The 39-year-old male driver is in a serious but stable condition in Dunedin Hospital.

A 38-year-old male passenger has been discharged.

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Saturday's crash has left the tiny town of Kurow reeling.

"This will test every bit of resilience the community has," senior team coach Kevin Malcolm said yesterday.

Last year, the Kurow Rugby Club, where All Blacks captain McCaw played as a child, made plans to make the club a focal point for the rural community.

They wanted to give young men living and working in the district a place to call their own.

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Now, those plans have been put into disarray.

"It's quite numbing really. Things are still quite raw," Mr Malcolm said.

"There is a lot of hard work ahead of us."

The team has practiced as normal this week. But tomorrow's match has been cancelled out of respect for the crash victims.

The team will instead attend Mr Blacker's funeral.

"It's our time to support the family and pay our respects," Mr Malcolm said.

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This week, the team remembered him as "the ultimate rugby player" who "embodied what it means to be part of a team".

The team is taking strength from the local community support, Mr Malcolm said.

"There's phonecalls coming from far and wide," he said.

"We are continually talking to everyone in the community. But it's very early days.

"We are doing our very best to ensure the hugs are in the right place."

The club is working with the police and Victim Support crews.

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A police spokeswoman confirmed that investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Local police were praised by Mr Malcolm for their sensitive handling of the tragic case.

"I take my hat off to them. We are exceptionally lucky to have their support."

Mr Blackler's death has been referred to the coroner.

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