A 29-year old rubgy league player was pronounced dead after he was stretchered off from a reserves grade game on Saturday in Ballina, New South Wales.

Zane Purcell died after a head impact during a tackle, witnesses told the Daily Examiner.

He was motionless on the field after the tackle when team medical staff rushed to his side and gave first aid.

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The man was taken to Ballina Hospital on the North Coast of NSW where he was pronounced dead, the newspaper reported.

Purcell was a reserves grade player for the Lower Clarence Magpies, the team was playing against the Ballina Seagulls.

Reserves games were cancelled for the rest of the day as the Country Rugby League offered its condolences to Purcell’s family.