A player has died during a rugby league game at Ballina on the NSW north coast.

Zane Purcell, 29, was playing for the Lower Clarence Magpies' reserve grade in their 2pm match against the Ballina Seagulls at Kingsford Smith Park on Sunday when he was involved in an awkward tackle shortly into the game.

Rugby league player Zane Purcell, who died at Ballina on Sunday, seen here with his daughter. Credit:Facebook

Magpies club president Steve Austine said he died in hospital.

"All I can say is a player went in for a tackle, had a head clash, and he's just fallen over," he said.