'Courageous' rugby star dies aged 27

A "courageous and brave" rugby player has died aged 27 after being diagnosed with leukaemia a year ago.

Ellis Joseph's former Bristol club, Old Redcliffians RFC, confirmed "he passed away peacefully at his family home".

Mr Joseph had been the focus of a campaign #TryForEllis to find a bone marrow donor, with "countless people" joining the stem cell register as a direct result, the club said.

A spokesperson said: "Ellis showed immense courage, and those who knew him will remember the bravery and strength he demonstrated throughout this difficult time."

"Remarkably, his sense of humour never wavered, and he remained the same comedic, light-hearted spirit we all loved," they added.

The team will be observing a minute's silence before Sunday's games against Taunton and Chosen Hill.

Mr Joseph joined the club as a junior. He earned more than 100 national league caps there, which the club said was "a remarkable feat".

He was also selected to represent Somerset, becoming part of the "historic team" that lifted the Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 2 Cup at Twickenham.

The team said Mr Joseph will be "greatly missed, but his memory will live on in all of us".

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects blood cells in your bone marrow – usually white blood cells, Blood Cancer UK said.

Common symptoms include:

• Tiredness that lasts a long time and doesn't improve with rest (fatigue)

• Bruising and bleeding more easily

• Repeated infections and high temperatures (fever)

• Unexplained weight loss

• Swollen lymph nodes (glands in your neck, armpit and groin).