Thousands raised in memory of Archie Bruce

A JustGiving page set up by the RFL Benevolent Fund in memory of Batley player Archie Bruce has already reached £3,000 in donations.

Bruce, 20, was found dead in his hotel room in France, the morning after making his Bulldogs debut in their 46-0 defeat to Toulouse.

To donate to the JustGiving page, click here.

Club director John Miller told BBC Radio Leeds: “Everyone is aware of how tragic it is. He was full of beans last night, very excited before the game, really, really giddy and happy with himself after the game and very proud as well.

“Then this morning he’s just not here and it’s difficult to get your head around, a young fella with the world at his feet.”

Asked how excited Bruce had been in the build-up to the game, he added: “He was giddy, he couldn’t really contain himself.

“He came on about 10, 15 minutes into the second half, so he didn’t play in the first half and he just kept running to the loo every five minutes. He was too excited and he kept running to the loo, he was getting that giddy. He was just keen to go on.

“But obviously he was focused on the game as well and when he got on against a real top quality Toulouse side, he looked the part in the 30 minutes. He just showed the promise that we knew he had.”

A minute’s silence was observed before all Super League, Championship and Women’s games in Bruce’s memory on Sunday.