David Pocock's concern for Ryan Crotty is the latest example of rugby sportsmanship. Stuff looks at six other acts of kindness, on and off the field:

1: TANA UMAGA and COLIN CHARVIS

The All Blacks midfielder won the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for international fair play for his compassionate deed in a 2003 test against Wales in Hamilton.

Umaga's teammate Jerry Collins stopped Welsh No 8 Colin Charvis in his tracks with a thunderous, but fair hit.

The All Blacks surged onto attack, but Umaga stopped to tend to the stricken Charvis, removing his mouthguard so he did not choke.

Umaga was widely praised for putting a rival's interests ahead of his own.

READ MORE: Pocock praised for aiding Crotty

PAUL GILHAM/GETTY IMAGES Sonny Bill Williams gives his 2015 Rugby World Cup winner's medal to young fan Charlie Lines.

"It was very good of Tana ... he could have followed the ball to try and score but he wanted to get Colin's gumshield out, to make sure he was OK," Wales captain Martyn Williams told NZME in 2003.

"The All Blacks were on attack, they had won the turnover, and a lot of people would have just gone for the try.

"It shows you there are things in life that are bigger than just a game. Worse things can happen in life than defeat... It was a great thing for Tana to do."

2: SONNY BILL WILLIAMS and CHARLIE LINES

PHIL WALTER/GETTY Former New Zealand Rugby president and ex-All Black Ian MacRae has kept in touch with a paralysed former rival for 50 years.

Sonny Bill Williams also earned an International Fair Play award for giving away his Rugby World Cup winner's medal to a young fan, who had been flattened in a tackle by an over-zealous Twickenham security guard.

Moments after the All Blacks beat Australia in the 2015 RWC final, Charlie Lines, ran up to give Williams a hug.

The All Black was incensed at seeing the boy "smoked" by the security guard and said he would have "given the security guard a hiding" if his own brother or cousin had been manhandled.

DAN MULLAN/GETTY England backrower Nathan Hughes (C) was praised for helping an injured Exeter Chiefs player in the 2017 English rugby premiership final.

Williams took his winner's medal from around his neck and presented it to a delighted Lines.

World Rugby later struck a replacement for the All Blacks midfielder, who once donated $100,000 from his professional boxing prize purse to the Canterbury Earthquakes Relief Fund.

When receiving his fair play award, Williams said: "There wasn't an actual gesture. It wasn't about being a footy player, a rugby union player, it was just about being a good person.

"That's how I was raised, to have good manners. Obviously I thought I saw a child that was a little bit hurt. It kind of touched me on my inside. I just did what I thought was right.

Williams later visited Charlie Lines in Dubai while there to watch a World Sevens tournament.

3: NZ MĀORI'S ANTHONY FOLEY HAKA TRIBUTE

TONY FEDER/GETTY Australian flanker Tala Gray saved a French rival from further injury in 2017 (file photo).

Munster and Ireland rugby legend Anthony Foley died suddenly in his Paris hotel room, aged 42, before a match against Dan Carter's Racing 92 club in October, 2016.

The Munster coach's passing - which prompted the game to be postponed - inspired a rash of tributes from throughout the rugby world.

One of the more poignant was a special haka by the New Zealand Māori team before their game against Munster in Limerick a month after Foley's death.

Māori captain Ash Dixon laid a black jersey - with Foley's initials on the back - on the turf before leading his team in a rousing haka.

The jersey was later presented to Foley's sons.

Racing 92 players and supporters also added their own touch in January when the postponed game between Racing and Munster was rescheduled.

The Racing players wore red warm-up jerseys in Foley's honours and their fans provided free accommodation for Munster followers.

4: IAN MACRAE and DANNY HEARN

Compassion can continue beyond the field.

Ian MacRae, the great 1960s All Blacks centre, has demonstrated over half a century how an act of tragedy can lead to enduring friendship.

England test midfielder Danny Hearn was paralysed for life after suffering severe neck injuries in an attempted crash tackle on MacRae in the All Blacks game against Midlands-London-Home Counties in 1967.

MacRae was instantly concerned for his rival. "I knew straight away something was badly wrong with him," he told his hometown Hawke's Bay Today newspaper in 2005.

"He looked up and said 'don't move me'."

Hearn - who now lives in Ireland - became a quadriplegic, but told The Rugby Paper last year he had no regrets the way his life had turned out.

He and MacRae met again when Hearn came to New Zealand three years after the fateful injury and have maintained their friendship for almost 50 years.

"Of all the players through the years, he's the one I've kept in touch with..." MacRae told Hawke's Bay Today.

MacRae toured with the All Blacks in 2013 as New Zealand Rugby president. He invited Hearn to be his guest in the lead up to the All Blacks' test against Ireland and Dublin.

5: NATHAN HUGHES and SAM SIMMONDS

Exeter Chiefs No 8 Sam Simmonds was sent reeling when Wasps' Nathan Hughes crashed into him after taking a tap penalty in the 2017 English premiership final.

Fiji-born Hughes stopped immediately to check on his England squad colleague and place him in the recovery position.

Both coaches praised the burly backrower's kindness with Exeter boss Rob Baxter hailing it as "an absolutely fabulous reaction".

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young agreed but believed any rugby player in the same position would have tried to help.

"I think that's something that rugby is recognised for, fantastic sportsmanship.

6: TALA GRAY and VIRGILE BRUNI

​Australian backrower Tala Gray took decisive action to protect a rival in a French Top 14 match in December 2017.

Gray - now with Stade Francais - was playing for Lyon when Toulouse No 8 Virgile Bruni became stuck in a ruck, unable to move an injured knee.

The quick-thinking Gray dropped to his knees and spread his body over Bruni to shield him from further danger from falling players.

Bruni suffered a season-ending ACL injury but later tweeted his gratitude to Gray: "Thank you for your attitude after my injury. It says a lot about who you are..."

Gray replied, in perfect French: "Thank you man, I hope it will be good luck soon on the field."