Rugby clubs to pay tribute after boy's farm death

Malvern's Under-15s players will wear black armbands during their match on Sunday in tribute to Harry

Players from two rugby clubs will remember a youth player who died in an accident on a farm when they meet this weekend.

Harry Moss, 14, died on the morning of 17 April in an incident involving farm machinery in Malvern, which also saw a man taken to hospital.

Harry's team, Malvern RFC, will be wearing black armbands when they play in the final of the North Midlands RFU Under-15s Plate on Sunday.

Their opponents, Stourbridge, will be wearing specially-printed shirts bearing Harry's name and squad number.

Malvern RFC's youth chair, Helen Owen, paid tribute to Harry.

"He was this larger than life character, with his blonde mullet flowing when he ran. He was just absolutely fantastic – he's going to be so, so, so, so, so sadly missed.

"He was a best friend to everyone... not just one group of boys - everybody that knew him. He was an absolutely lovely lad."

Malvern's youth chair Helen Owen said Harry was "a best friend to everyone"

A statement on the club's Facebook page described Harry as "not just a talented young player, he was the very heart and embodiment of our under 15's squad. Fierce on the field, kind off it and always first to support a teammate.

"His loss is felt across the entire Malvern family."

One tribute, posted under the statement, read: "On behalf of Stourbridge U15s I'd like to express our deepest condolences to our friends at Malvern Rugby Club but especially Harry's family and teammates. I hope that we can come together on Sunday through the game he clearly loved to acknowledge, remember and celebrate Harry."

Nearby rugby clubs including Ledbury, Woodrush, Kidderminster, Alcester, Pershore, Silhillians, Droitwich, Old Leamingtonians, Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham also posted their condolences.

Ms Owen added the club was in contact with, and supporting, Harry's family.

She said Sunday's match would be one of "high emotion from start to finish".

"We're just going to give it our all.

And hopefully Harry's family will be there, and they can be part of something that he loved so much."

A fundraising page set up for the family has raised more than £14,000.

Following Harry's death, police confirmed there had been an accident involving farm machinery and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had been informed.

The HSE said it was working with West Mercia Police on the investigation.