Ulster centre Nevin Spence has tragically died in a farming accident, along with his brother and father, at his family farm in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Spence, who was also an international for the Ireland Wolfhounds, fell into a slurry pit on Saturday evening and the emergency services were unable to rescuscitate him at the scene.
A woman, believed to be his sister, was rescued alive and has been receiving treatment for fume inhalation at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
An ambulance service statement said: "One of the four showed initial signs of responding to the efforts of the crews and was transported immediately to the nearby Lagan Valley Hospital, where unfortunately he died a short time later.
"Despite the best efforts of all involved the other two men died at the scene. A female was treated at the scene and taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she is recovering from the effects of fume inhalation."
The 22-year-old Spence was voted Young Player of the Year by the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association last season.
