Table of Contents
- Tom Voyce played professional club rugby for 13 years with Bath, Wasps, Gloucester and London Welsh.
- He also played nine times for England, scoring 15 points in the process.
- Officers recovered Tom Voyce’s car, but Voyce himself has not yet been found.
Former England rugby international Tom Voyce is feared dead after his car was swept away while attempting to cross a river ford.
Northumbria Police believe the 43-year-old man attempted to cross the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his car was swept away.
Police launched a search for the former England flanker after receiving a report on Sunday morning that he had not returned home after an evening out with friends.
Officers have since recovered the car but Mr Voyce, missing since Saturday, has yet to be found.
A force spokesperson said: “At this time, Tom is suspected of attempting to cross Abberwick Ford in his car, which was then swept away by the current of the river.
“Officers have since recovered his car, but sadly Tom has yet to be found. It is believed that in his attempts to escape he was swept away and tragically died.
Former England rugby international Tom Voyce is believed to have died crossing the River Aln
Where was Tom Voyce from?
Tom Voyce was born in Truro, Cornwall and educated at Penair School in Truro.
Voyce continued his education at King’s College in Taunton.
Outside of rugby, he is an ambassador for the Wooden Spoon Society, a children’s charity.
Supports children and young people who are disabled or living at a disadvantage in the UK and Ireland.
Who did Tom Voyce play for?
Tom Voyce helped Wasps win their third consecutive Premiership title with a try during the 2005 Premiership final.
Tom Voyce and Danny Cipriani pose with the trophy after winning the Guinness Premiership final in 2008.
After a successful spell with Wasps, Voyce joined Gloucester, where he spent three years.
Tom Voyce began his playing career with Bath Rugby and rose through the youth sides before making his debut for their Premiership team.
While at Bath he became an established member of the England Under-21 team and in 2001 made his senior England debut against the United States, his first of nine.
In 2003, after 55 appearances for Bath, Voyce would join London Wasps, where he would play the majority of their senior club rugby.
During the 2004 season, he set the record for the fastest try ever scored when he collected a loose ball from the kick-off and crossed it through the posts in 9.63 against Harlequins.
He also scored a try in the 2005 Premiership rugby union final, helping Wasps to their third consecutive title.
It was here that he became an established member of the England squad, having been selected for each of England’s Six Nations matches during the 2006 tournament.
Voyce came off the bench in England’s first match and scored in the process before starting the second match.
He made one more start for England in the 2006 Six Nations, this time against Ireland, as England faltered throughout the tournament.
His last international match for England was against Australia in Sydney, in a performance which by his own admission was quite poor. Voyce’s international career ended with nine caps and 15 points.
In March 2009 it was announced that Voyce would join Gloucester, where he spent three years.
His final stop in his career was London Welsh, who he joined in April 2012, and Voyce announced his retirement from all forms of rugby in May 2013.