Hundreds attend funeral of popular rugby player

Hundreds of mourners have attended a popular rugby player's funeral, where his father paid tribute to the "real cheeky chappy" his son was.

Kane Forder, who played for Coventry side Pinley RFC, was found dead at home in the city last month, following an apparent suicide at the age of 23.

His dad Dave, also known as Fattay, said he wanted to use the funeral to highlight men's mental health issues.

Speaking to the congregation at Coventry Cathedral, Mr Forder said that if just one person could be saved his son would not have "died in vain".

Kane Forder (left) with his dad Dave, known as Fattay

"It feels very unreal," Mr Forder said. "He was a cheeky chappy - a wind up all the time.

"He was a good looking lad. He obviously gets it from his dad. He was just like a local personality."

Mr Forder said that when another player died, Kane was the first to offer to talk to anyone who was feeling low.

In a bid to support people after his son's death he also asked for a mental health advocate to also speak during the funeral.

Kane Forder's funeral took place at Coventry Cathedral on Thursday

"There are going to be so many people struggling, so I've asked for a five minute window just to help them," he said.

"If it saves one person for doing something similar it will have saved a whole lot of hurt for one family. He's not died in vain then."

In a statement, Pinley RFC said: "[Kane] had a positively infectious character, always smiling and always buzzing, always up for a laugh and full of energy.

“You will be missed by so many."