FORMER IRELAND RUGBY league international Ryan Tandy has died at the age of 32.

The Australian native was found at his parent’s home in Saratoga, New South Wales at around 2pm on Monday, with local police saying that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Tandy earned five caps for Ireland, including involvement at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia, where he helped the Irish side to top Group C before being knocked out of the competition by Fiji.

The New South Wales man had stints with St. George Illawarra, South Sydney, Wests Tigers, Melbourne and Canterbury in the NRL, as well as playing for English club Hull KR.

In 2011, Tandy received a lifetime ban from the NRL after being found guilty of match fixing. The incident occurred during a game for Canterbury in 2010, when it was found that the player deliberately gave away an early penalty, having have placed bets on opposing team North Queensland to score the first points of the match with a penalty goal.

Tandy lost an appeal against the conviction in January 2012.

Condolences

Rugby League Ireland have shared their condolences with the Tandy family on their official website, saying:

Rugby League Ireland would like to pass on our condolences to the family and friends of Ryan Tandy who sadly passed away today in Saratoga, Australia. Ryan played for Ireland during the 2008 World Cup in Australia and was a key member of the team that topped the group and went on to play in the quarter final eliminator.

“Ryan was a larger than life character and we would like to express our thanks for the commitment during the World Cup. As the team motto that all players had tattooed says, there is no strength without unity – ”ni neart go cur le ch́eile” and we wish his family unity at this sad time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam” – May he rest in peace.”