Rugby Star Dies Moments After Match Victory at Can-Am Tournament

 

Veteran Rugby Legend Passes Away Doing What He Loved

Heart Attack Claims Life of Devoted Rugby Player at Can-Am Rugby Festival

Rugby isn't just a game, it's a heartbeat, a bond, a way of life. And last week, that heartbeat faltered. Robert “Bobby” Sweeney, a name spoken with admiration across pitches from New York to Singapore, passed away just minutes after stepping off the field at the Can-Am Rugby Tournament in Saranac Lake, New York. He was 67.

 

Who Was Robert Sweeney? A Global Rugby Nomad with an Unshakable Spirit

From the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the coastlines of Australia, Sweeney chased more than victory he chased connection. A former CFO who chose cleats over comfort in retirement, he became a fixture at “golden oldies” tournaments around the world. Just days before the Can-Am event, he was playing in Singapore, grinning in team photos and trading stories with players half his age.

Representing the over-60s team Mystical Geese Eh!, Sweeney brought not just speed and skill, but spirit. Whether in Germany or New Hampshire, he was welcomed not just for his game but for his warmth. “He was everywhere, always playing, always smiling,” a fellow player recalled.

 

Final Match Ends in Tragedy

On Friday morning, July 25, the sun beat down on the Petrova Elementary fields. Sweeney, despite his age, darted, tackled, and passed with his usual precision. After the whistle, he exchanged a few words with longtime friend and teammate David Martin, who complimented his performance. Sweeney, ever modest, replied with a quiet, “Thanks.”

Minutes later, he was in the medical tent. Despite urgent care, he didn’t make it.

 

Rugby, Resilience, and a Return from the Brink

This wasn’t his first brush with danger. Years earlier, at Missoula Maggotfest, Sweeney suffered a heart attack. But he recovered, strapped his boots back on, and returned stronger. He later joined Martin at a tournament on Catalina Island—playing for a team aptly named “The Cardiac Kids.”

He had picked up rugby during his college days at Iona, after initially joining as a baseball player. But once rugby took hold of him, it never let go. And Sweeney never let go of the sport or his people. Every place he lived, he joined a club: Manhattan Rugby in New York, Seacoast in New Hampshire, Back Bay in California. After retirement, he joined PacLantic to travel the world with rugby as his guide.

 

Tributes on the Field and Beyond

When the announcement of his passing spread through the tournament, the mood shifted. Both teams gathered before their next match. Arm-in-arm, they formed a circle. No pep talks. No chants of “Go team!” Only one name echoed through the field: “Bob Sweeney!”

David Martin, who had known him since 1988, later wrote online: “Good luck, Bobby. Score tries in heaven.”

 

Conclusion: A Legacy of Heart, Humility, and Brotherhood

Robert Sweeney didn’t chase fame. He chased friendships. He didn’t seek accolades he sought connection. His legacy isn’t in statistics, but in the people he touched and the memories he created.

He is survived by his wife Kelly, daughter Megan, and son Owen. But his rugby family is vast—scattered across time zones, languages, and fields. And in each of them, the spirit of Bobby Sweeney runs strong.

He played with heart. He lived with purpose. And he left the field as a champion.