Bryn Hargreaves news – latest: Body of rugby star found after going missing over one year ago

Mr. Hargreaves was reported missing in January 2022 after failing to show up for work in West Virginia.

Matt Mathers takes a look at everything we know about the British rugby player:

A body found during a search for a missing rugby player has been identified by police as Bryn Hargreaves.

Police have confirmed reports from the Brit’s family that his body was found more than a year after he disappeared.

In a statement, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office said, “The human remains discovered on February 26, 2023 in Monongalia County, WV, have been identified as Bryn Hargreaves.

“Hargreaves, originally from England, was reported missing on January 16, 2022. His last known whereabouts were his residence at the Whisper Creek Apartment Complex, located on South Pierpont Road in Monongalia County, WV.

“A major search of the Cheat Lake area was conducted by members of the Sheriff’s Department, Morgantown Police/Fire Search and Rescue, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, MECCA 911 and several individual volunteers over a period of several months with negative success.

“The Sheriff’s Office is awaiting a full autopsy report from the WV Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before determining the cause and manner of death. An updated press release will be made available once this report is received.”

Bryn Hargreaves moved to the United States 10 years ago to work in the oil and gas industry, shortly after his last club, the Bradford Bulls, went bust.

He previously lived in Pittsburgh with his American wife Amy, whom he met in Mexico in 2013. The two married in a ceremony attended by both of their families.

After four years they lived apart and eventually divorced.

Friends of the couple previously told the Mirror that the divorce “must have devastated him” because he was “so happy” when they got married.

When the couple split, Bryn moved to West Virginia but his brother Gareth Hargreaves said he was feeling isolated during the Covid lockdown and suggested he could return to the UK.

Born in Wigan, Bryn Hargreaves fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for the Warriors in the Super League.

He also played for St Helens where he won the Challenge Cup in 2008 before moving to the US 10 years ago to work in the oil and gas industry shortly after his last club, the Bradford Bulls, went bust.

He previously lived in Pittsburgh with his American wife, Amy, whom he met in Mexico. After four years they lived apart and eventually divorced.

St Helens RFC, where Bryn Hargreaves used to play, said the club will remember him with “real warmth and affection”.

His chairman Eamonn McManus said: “Bryn was immensely popular and respected by his team-mates and everyone associated with the club during his four seasons with us from 2007 to 2010.

“He was an important part of the great Saints team of the time and was a 2007 World Club Challenge winner and a 2008 Challenge Cup winner.

“He will be remembered by all of us with sincere warmth and affection.”

While we await more details from police, it remains unclear how Bryn Hargreaves died or where his body was found.

His sudden disappearance and the lengthy search for his body left his family in confusion.

Gareth Hargreaves told the PA agency in June 2022: “Bryn had mental health issues and was in severe back pain from a car accident in December.

“Also, he was separated from his family over Christmas.

“The most likely scenarios were that he decided to harm himself or decided to go away for a while and come back.

“But five months later, those two possibilities look less likely because you have to expect a body to turn up.”

He added: “We had police examine his bank account which revealed no withdrawals and his wallet and ID card and passport are still at his home so he had no access to his cash or travel documents.

“So you start thinking about the other possibility, that he didn’t mean to go missing and that someone influenced it by kidnapping or something like that.

“You start thinking about all the weird things that add up. When police went to his apartment, the door was closed but unlocked and the shower was still on.

“And on the night of his disappearance he had ordered a couple of bottles of gin from a mail order company to be delivered in the next day or two.”

The death of former rugby league player Bryn Hargreaves has also been confirmed by his club Wigan Warriors.

His former club tweeted: “Wigan Warriors are saddened to learn of the death of former player Bryn Hargreaves. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Bryn Hargreaves’ mother has also shared her thoughts following the discovery of her son’s body.

Posting on Facebook, Maria Andrews said she was “heartbroken” by the news.

“Nothing I wanted to share,” she wrote. “I’m #broken in bits my beautiful son Bryn I can’t find the words to describe the pain xx.”

my colleague Thomas Kingsley has more on the initial reaction to the news that Mr Hargreaves’ body has been found:

Mr Hargreaves, who was 36 at the time, was reported missing in January 2022 after failing to arrive for work in West Virginia, United States. His disappearance sparked a major search conducted by police and sniffer dogs.

His older brother, Gareth Hargreaves, announced the former player’s death on Facebook, 14 months after he was last seen.