The 18-year-old Irish rugby player John McCall, who tragically died on Saturday while playing in the Under-19 World Cup in Durban, South Africa, was a victim of what is commonly referred to as "sudden adult death syndrome". Johnny Watterson reports

Following a post-mortem in Durban yesterday, it was confirmed by the officer in charge at the mortuary the cause of death was congested myopathy, or, acute heart failure. The hospital official also confirmed the player had not received external or internal injuries and his death was a result of natural causes.

"Following the post-mortem into the death of John McCall on Saturday, 27th March, 2004, at the IRB Under-19 World Championship in Durban, the pathologist has confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac failure.

"As a mark of respect a minute's silence will be observed before each of the games on the next match day, which is Wednesday, 31st March," said an IRB statement yesterday.

Before the result of the post-mortem was known, the Irish team and management made the decision they would withdraw from the tournament and return home. Arrangements have yet to be made for the 26 players and eight backroom staff, who wish to travel back to Ireland together. The team was scheduled to meet Japan in their second match in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow. The IRB has fully supported the decision taken by the team to withdraw from the competition.

"Following the tragic death of Irish player John McCall during the first round of matches at the IRB Under-19 World Championship in Durban, the Irish management and team have taken the decision not to compete further in the championship and will return home," said an IRB statement.

"The International Rugby Board and the South African Rugby Football Union fully support the decision and will be assisting the Irish management and team in any way during the coming days."

There had been speculative reports in a number of media outlets suggesting a scrum had collapsed during the match, and that the player had subsequently suffered a fatal injury. As a result of the post-mortem findings and television pictures (the game was being televised live at the time of the player's collapse and edited footage was subsequently shown on news channels in South Africa), that speculation has now been entirely discounted.

"The post-mortem was very conclusive," said Dr Ismail Jakoet, general manager of medical affairs for the South African Rugby Football Union (SARF). "It rules out everything else and all of the speculation relating to other causes. That speculation can now be wiped out. There was also no evidence of any injuries to the player. In the medical papers I have read regarding sudden death syndrome, in about 40 per cent of the cases they find a cause. In this case a cause was found."

John's father Ian arrived in Durban yesterday to identify his son and arrangements are being made for repatriation.

Tributes have flooded in and Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue TD, said: "The death of 18-year-old John McCall while representing his country on the playing field in South Africa is a dreadful tragedy. I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to his family and his colleagues on the Irish team. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam."

Michael Reid, chief executive of the Ulster Branch, also expressed his sincere condolences to the McCall family on behalf of the rugby community.

"It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of John's death. He was a fine player who had shown great skill and maturity this season in leading Royal School Armagh to their Schools' Cup victory and it came as no surprise when he was selected for the Irish Under-19 side," said Reid.

"John was a tremendous player who inspired and led from the front. He had such a bright future in front of him and we are all devastated by his death," he added. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with his parents and family at this time, as well as his many friends and fellow pupils at Royal School Armagh."