Kiwi rugby player Hayden Triggs' heartbreak

Hayden Triggs seen at Blues training in 2014. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealand rugby player Hayden Triggs has used his rugby club's website to reveal his distress over the death of his baby daughter in Ireland.

A former lock for the Manawatu province and also an-ex New Zealand Maori rep, Triggs has played for four of the five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises and is a popular figure in New Zealand pro rugby circles.

He has been plying his trade for leading Irish club Leinster since late last year.

Triggs, 34, revealed his heartbreak over the death of his infant daughter Stella on September 30.

A statement on the club's website said the episode had been a "nightmare" for Triggs and his partner Mikala and that "our hearts are broken".

The pair thanked the Leinster club and its fans for the support they had provided which included a minute's silence for Stella at last weekend's match against Munster.

"On behalf of Mikala and I, I would like to thank the players, their partners, the staff and indeed the supporters at Leinster Rugby for their support over the last few weeks and in particular for the wonderful gesture at the Leinster against Munster game at the Aviva Stadium in honour of our beautiful daughter Stella," Triggs' statement read.

"We would also like to thank the wonderful doctors, midwives, nurses and staff in Unit 8 at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street who do amazing work on a daily basis and are a source of huge support for families such as ours who go through this nightmare on an all too frequent basis.

"Our hearts are broken but we will celebrate Stella's short life and I would like to use this opportunity to raise awareness of the National Maternity Hospital Foundation and their #HelpHollesStreet campaign.

"Once again, thank you all sincerely for the support."

Triggs has bene with Leinster after finishing up with the Blues. He has also turned out for Manawatu, Otago and North Harbour in the National Provincial Championship as well playing Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues.