Ireland's Triple Crown victory celebrations were cast under a shadow today following the tragic death of one of the country's brightest young rugby prospects.
John McCall was taken from the pitch 20 minutes into Ireland's Under-19 World Cup clash with New Zealand in South Africa earlier today and later died in hospital.
The 18-year-old flanker received lengthy treatment at the Absa Stadium medical centre before being transferred to St Augustine's hospital in Durban where he passed away.
International Rugby Board officials have refused to disclose the cause of death but the South African Rugby Football Union reported that McCall was a victim of "sudden death syndrome", a blanket term used for cardiac arrest in young people.
Irish Rugby Football Union president John Quilligan said: "It's a terrible tragedy. Our sincere condolences go out to the McCall family and everyone who knew John."
The senior Ireland team was not informed of the tragedy until after their 37-16 victory over Scotland at Lansdowne Road this afternoon.
John's uncle Brian featured in the Ireland squad which won the nation's last Triple Crown in 1985.
John McCall skippered Royal Armagh to victory in the Ulster Schools' Cup on St Patrick's Day and later celebrated that success by landing his Ireland under-19 call-up.
He who would have been 19 in August