An inquest has begun in Sydney into the death of a former rugby player during surgery almost two years ago.

Marc Verhoeven played for sides in New Zealand's national provincial championship in the 1980s and '90s and was also a successful businessman.

Glebe Coroners Court was today told that his death after shoulder surgery in Sydney was extremely unusual.

In August 2011 he went under anaesthetic to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder at St Vincent's Private Hospital.

He had a massive stroke and never woke up.

The 50-year-old was said to be fit and healthy and even went to the gym on the morning of the procedure.

Mr Verhoeven was in what is known as the 'beach chair position' for the surgery.

The inquest has heard two experts have identified some risks associated with this position.

But the doctor who performed the surgery told the inquest he was not aware of any specific risks of the method he was using.

Dr Simon Tan said that he had performed 1600 such operations.

Dr Tan said that at the time, there were no guidelines about potential problems with blood pressure monitoring during surgery in the beach chair position.