ARU offers counselling as tributes flow for Vickerman

Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 12:16 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Teammates, opponents and fans have paid tribute to Dan Vickerman on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images
Teammates, opponents and fans have paid tribute to Dan Vickerman on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images

The ARU has offered counselling for to its players, after Dan Vickerman's shock passing on Saturday.

ARU chief operating officer Rob Clarke, speaking to reporters in Canberra on Monday, said the governing body and the Rugby Union Players' Association had extended the offer to any player who needed it, especially Vickerman's former teammates.

"Between the ARU and RUPA, there's a lot of help on hand and that offer has been put out to all players, particularly those that played with him at the Brumbies, at the Waratahs and the Wallabies," he said.

Clarke headed up the Brumbies when Vickerman made his Super Rugby debut and paid tribute to the 63-Test Wallabies lock on Monday. 

"Dan was here when I was CEO of the Brumbies and he was a gentle giant of a man," he said.

"A wonderful player, as you saw [former Waratahs captain] Phil Waugh's comments today that when you had Dan in a jersey running out beside you, you felt an extra level of confidence and that was the sort of guy he was.

"To have something like this happen at his age of 37 with a young family is just simply beyond belief and everybody in rugby is mourning him." - Rob Clarke

Clarke admitted sporting organisations needed to be more proactive when it came to players' mental health.

"I think it's something that we, as administrators, need to continue to be ever vigilant on and the transition from being a professional sportsman into the world after sport can be challenging and we've seen it in a number of sports and we are looking at how we can invest expertise and resources to try and help smooth that transition for all of our players and I know a lot of the other sports as well."

Brumbies coach and Vickerman's former teammate Stephen Larkham said Vickerman still rated highly among the club's greatest players.

Stephen Larkham's men topped the Australian conference in 2016. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

“It’s very sad and tragic news and my heart goes out to Sarah and the kids,” he said.

“Dan was a well-respected individual in the rugby community and someone that the players looked up to. He was uncompromising and consistent and was certainly one of my favourite players to play with. - Stephen Larkham

“At our pre-season camp when we asked the group to select their greatest ever Brumbies team, Dan polled on a number of the lists which shows the respect in which he was regarded.”

Vickerman was found in his family home overnight, dead at just 37, and social media was flooded with tributes for the 204cm second rower as the news filtered around the world.


Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore offered his sympathies upon the news of the 53-cap Waratahs lock's death on Sunday. "Dan was well respected for his on field leadership and performance and equally respected by all that knew him off the field.

“His tireless commitment and passion to helping improve Rugby as well as his commitment to supporting players throughout their careers through his role with RUPA, is a legacy that will long live on. - Andrew Hore

“The shockwaves of his tragic passing will be felt right across our rugby community.  Our thoughts are with his wife Sarah, their two sons and other friends and family during this difficult time.”

Eddie Jones, who coached Vickerman through his early Test days, joined the chorus of tributes on Sunday night from England.

"On behalf of the RFU and myself, I would like to send my condolences to Dan Vickerman's family, Sarah and the two kids," he said in a statement..

"He was a wonderfully committed team player and a good guy. He will be sorely missed by the rugby community." - Eddie Jones

Vickerman played for the Waratahs and Brumbies, but tributes were not just restricted to his former rugby homes.

Vickerman's reputation was almost unparalleled throughout former players, endeared and respected by teammates, opponents and fans alike.

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