- Tom Voyce played professional club rugby for 13 years with Bath, Wasps, Gloucester and London Welsh
- He also played nine times for England, scoring fifteen points
- Tom Voyce’s car has been recovered by officers, but Voyce himself has yet to be found.
Former England rugby union international Tom Voyce is feared dead after his car was swept away while trying to cross a river ford.
Northumbria Police believe the 43-year-old attempted to cross the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his car was swept away by the current.
Police launched a search for the former England wing after receiving a report on Sunday morning that he had not returned to his home after an evening with friends.
Officers have now recovered the car, but Mr Voyce, who has been missing since Saturday, has not yet been found.
A police spokesman said: ‘It is currently believed that Tom attempted 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 unfortunately Tom has not yet been found. It is believed he was swept away during his escape attempts and tragically died.”
Former England rugby international Tom Voyce is believed to have died while crossing the River Aln
Where did Tom Voyce come from?
Tom Voyce was born in Truro, Cornwall and educated at Penair School in Truro.
Voyce continued his education at King’s College, Taunton.
Outside of rugby, he is an ambassador for the Wooden Spoon Society, a children’s charity.
It supports children and young people with disabilities or who are disadvantaged in the UK and Ireland
Who did Tom Voyce play for?
Tom Voyce helped Wasps win their third consecutive Premiership title with a try in 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 at Wasps, Voyce joined Gloucester where he spent three years
Tom Voyce started his playing career at Bath Rugby and worked his way up through the lower sides before making his debut for their Premiership team.
While playing at Bath he became an established member of the England under-21s and in 2001 he made his senior England debut against the USA – his first of nine.
In 2003, after 55 appearances with Bath, Voyce would join London Wasps where he would play most of his senior club rugby.
During the 2004 season he set the record for the fastest try ever scored when he collected a loose ball from kick-off and went past the posts in 9.63 against Harlequins.
He also scored a try in the 2005 Premiership rugby final, helping Wasps secure their third successive title.
It is here that he became a regular member of the England team after being selected for each of England’s Six Nations matches during the 2006 tournament.
Voyce came off the bench in England’s opening game, scoring before starting the second match.
He made another start for England in the 2006 Six Nations, this time against Ireland, as England sputtered throughout the tournament.
His last England cap was against Australia in Sydney, in a performance that he himself admitted 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 last stop in his career was London Welsh, who he joined in April 2012, with Voyce announcing his retirement from all forms of rugby in May 2013.