Hundreds gather for Danny Jones funeral

A crowd of 4,066 more than four times last season's average, turned out for Keighley's League 1 match against Coventry yesterday to pay their respects to Danny Jones.

Jones, a Wales international, died of a heart attack after being taken ill during Keighley's game at London Skolars.

A post-mortem showed he suffered from undiagnosed hereditary heart disease that resulted in his cardiac arrest.

Jones, who was 29, leaves a widow Lizzie and five-month-old twins.

The match went ahead at the request of the Jones family and the kick-off was put back by 15 minutes to allow the hordes of fans into Cougar Park.

Before kick-off on an emotional afternoon, Lizzie walked onto the pitch, cradling twins Bobby and Phoebe, and fought back the tears as she released balloons in memory of her husband.

A book of condolence was opened in the clubhouse and fund-raising by the Rugby Football League's benevolent fund has so far reached £90,000 of the £100,000 target.

A bucket collection at the match, which Keighley won 52-10, raised a further £10,500.

Wales rugby league international Danny Jones died of a cardiac arrest triggered by hereditary heart disease.

An initial post-mortem into the 29-year-old's death took place today. It found that the heart disease was not revealed when the player underwent an ECG scan in late 2014.

Jones, who was the father of five-month-old twins, collapsed during his club Keighley's League 1 game at London Skolars last Sunday and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Keighley chief executive Gary Fawcett said: "Whilst the findings of the post-mortem do provide an explanation for why he died, they allow for little comfort for Danny's family or all those who knew him.

"All we can do now is mourn his passing, celebrate his life and do everything we can for Danny's wife Lizzie, their children Bobby and Phoebe and their wider family."

A fundraising initiative set up by the Rugby Football League's benevolent fund has so far raised more than £77,000 but organisers hope it will eventually top one million pounds to provide Jones' family with financial stability.

Keighley rugby league club wants to raise £1million for the family of Welsh international Danny Jones and says the money will help ensure there is no repeat of the tragedy.

Jones, a half-back, lost his life last Sunday after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest during a match, leaving behind a wife Lizzie and five-month-old twins.

A fund set up by the Rugby Football League's benevolent fund has so far raised more than £70,000 through 4,500 donations and will be boosted further by proceeds from Keighley's next match, against Coventry at Cougar Park on Sunday.

Organisers have set a target of £100,000 but club chairman Gary Fawcett want it to reach £1m with the support from football and rugby union.

Coaches and players throughout rugby league have joined a growing call for cardiac screening, which is currently mandatory only in Super League, to be rolled out across the game.

Keighley's players have been offered counselling ahead of what is sure to be an emotional League 1 game against Coventry on Sunday.

The match was in doubt following the sudden death of popular half-back Danny Jones, who suffered a suspected cardiac arrest during last Sunday's game at London Skolars.

However, it will go ahead at the request of Jones' family, who will be among an expected bumper crowd at Cougar Park as fans from across the game prepare to pay their respects to the Welsh international, who leaves a wife Liz and five-month-old twins.

The Rugby Football League's benevolent fund has so far raised £43,000 in less than 48 hours for the family of Welsh rugby league player Danny Jones.

The 29-year-old player died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest while playing for his club Keighley Cougars.

Today the club said Sunday's match will go ahead at the request of Danny's family. He leaves a wife Liz and five-month-old twins.

Jones, a Wales international, scored more than 1,000 points in two spells for the Cougars after starting out at his home-town club Halifax.

Keighley have already announced they intend to retire Jones' number six jersey and said on Tuesday they will rename their main stand at Cougar Park after the player.

There are calls for more rugby league players to have heart tests, after the death of Wales international Danny Jones.

The 29-year-old was taken off the pitch just minutes into Sunday's game at London Skolars after feeling unwell.

After collapsing at the side of the pitch, an air ambulance was called and he was taken to the Royal Free Hospital, where he was unable to be resuscitated.

The match was eventually abandoned after 15 minutes.

RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer, said that although all full-time squads have cardiac screening, part-time squads are on a voluntary basis.

He added that any kind of screening may not have highlighted the problem.