Just a few months after the death of former Wales football manager Gary Speed, the recent and tragic case of Selorm Kuadey has brought back into focus the issue of mental health in sport.

The world of rugby was this week stunned by the loss of 24-year-old Kuadey, a young man who had played for Sale Sharks and who had represented England Under 19s and Under 20s before injuries forced him into early retirement in 2010.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death are unknown but it has been widely reported that the ex-winger committed suicide.

At this point it should be made clear that there has been no confirmed link between the loss of his rugby career and whatever led to his death.

Since finishing rugby Kuadey graduated from university with a first-class honours degree in human biology and infectious diseases and had a good job.

Yet almost as soon as news of Kuadey’s death had been announced rugby began to pay its respects and, rightfully perhaps, look at its own role in what appeared to be a hugely promising life.

Tributes poured in from all levels of the game, officials with kindly-worded statements and former team-mates with Tweets that laid bare their shock and pain.

One such pronouncement came from Damian Hopley, the chief executive of the Rugby Players’ Association, in which he urged players to seek help if they experience any signs of psychological suffering.

Hopley made special reference to those who, like him, had their careers cut short by injury.

“The physical trauma of injury is completely overshadowed by the psychological trauma if you have to stop playing and give up your sport prematurely,” Hopley said.

“We don’t know if that was the situation with Selorm or not, but we are all shocked to the core about this tragic news.

“It is so important that young men look for advice and our remit is to try to provide as much support for the players as we can.”

The RPA is one of the main sources of that support and one on which former Worcester and Bees fly half George Crook leant in the aftermath of his retirement at the age of 22.

Crook remains grateful for the professional advice and guidance the union gave, assistance which helped him enter the workforce despite having, by his own admission, ‘put all his eggs in one basket’.

Nevertheless when, two years ago, that basket was turned upside down by a chronic and debilitating back condition that could have left him paralysed by 30, he sought help closer to home.

“You have to have been a professional rugby player to know what the loss is like,” Crook said.

“Everything you do, what you eat, when you sleep, even what you wear is geared towards rugby whether it’s a match on a Saturday or training the next day. Rugby is your life.

"When that’s not there you forget your purpose. When I stopped I wasn’t sure whether that meant I could now drink alcohol or go for a pizza with friends or family. I remember wondering one night whether I still needed to eat tuna just before I went to bed.”

Crook tried to ‘stay in the game’ by coaching at Shrewsbury School but found himself feeling the way he did when he was still a player.