A talented young rugby player died from catastrophic brain injuries over a month after she was injured in a tackle during a game, an inquest heard.

Tragic Sarah Chesters, 23, was playing for her ladies' rugby team on October 19 last year when she was bundled to the ground by a bigger opposition player.

The 5ft 2in full-back complained of pain to her collarbone but managed to walk off the pitch and even declined an offer of an ambulance or hospital treatment.

Tragic Sarah Chesters was playing for her ladies' rugby team on October 19 last year when she was bundled to the ground by a bigger opposition player (pictured here in an earlier match)

In the coming weeks she also carried on making a daily two-hour commute from her home in Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, for her job as a research intern with Women in Sport in London.

But an inquest heard the Masters' degree graduate took a turn for the worse after she started being sick and feeling dizzy on November 13.

She was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital where tests revealed she had suffered a stroke.

Her conditioned rapidly worsened and she passed away on November 21 after coming off a life support machine.

Yesterday, North Staffordshire Coroners Court heard Sarah died from brain injuries which were probably triggered by the tackle as she played for Longton RUFC.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, North Staffordshire Coroner Ian Smith said: 'She was tackled, she went down.

'When the injury occurred is not totally clear.

The 5ft 2in full-back complained of pain to her collarbone but managed to walk off the pitch and even declined an offer of an ambulance or hospital treatment

'It may have been the result of the initial impact or the result of hitting the deck.'

Consultant neurosurgeon Simon Shaw told the inquest Sarah's eventual death was caused by multiple brain infarctions.

But the 'likelihood' was the initial trigger had been blunt trauma to the side of the neck in the rugby tackle one month earlier.

This court heard this, in turn, had caused damage to an artery, with a blood clot then leading to the stroke.

Sarah's dad Michael Chesters, 65, said his daughter had 'loved' rugby ever since she was introduced to it whilst studying at Manchester Metropolitan University.

North Staffordshire Coroners Court heard Sarah died from brain injuries which were probably triggered by the tackle as she played for Longton RUFC

The 'likelihood' was that the force of the powerful tackle caused blunt trauma to the side of Sarah's neck

After gaining a first-class degree in History, she took a Masters at Loughborough University.

Today Mr Chesters and his wife Diane, 59, declined to talk about their daughter's death.

Speaking from their £160,000 semi-detached home, the dad-of-two said: 'We dont want to say anything about it.

'We are a private family and just want to be left alone.'

Jez Moss, club manager at Longton RUFC, added: 'Sarah was a valued member of our club both as a player and as a person.

'We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of her death.

'Our heartfelt condolences go out to her friends and family.'

Sarah's pal Lesley Thompson was playing alongside her in the game where she suffered her injury.

But an inquest heard the Masters' degree graduate took a turn for the worse after she started being sick and feeling dizzy on November 13

The Stoke-on-Trent home which sports loving Sarah - who was also a football coach - lived with her family

Giving evidence, she said: 'I didn't see it, but I believe she was tackled by a much bigger person. It was just a tackle, nothing malicious or heated.

'She was lying flat on the floor, holding her right collarbone.'

Football club Bradwell Belles, where Sarah coached youngsters after playing for 12 years, is also planning a tribute match in aid of the Stroke Association.

Speaking after the inquest, Bradwell Belles secretary Robert Pilkington said: 'Sarah put her heart and soul into everything.

'She was a lovely girl to be around. As a player she would listen to everything she was told to do to better herself.

'What she put into playing, she put into coaching. She always worked hard and was a dedicated athlete.'

Sarah's dad Michael Chesters, 65, said his daughter had 'loved' rugby ever since she was introduced to it whilst studying at Manchester Metropolitan University

He added: 'She told us about the accident, which obviously caused her death. It was an awkward landing.

'But the fact she carried on as normal does not surprise me - she was always a battler and had a true fighting spirit.

'It was saddening. It was just a complete shock to everyone.'

Sarah studied a Master's of Science (MSc) in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University.

She graduated in December 2013, having completed her programme in September that year.

The fact she carried on as normal does not surprise me - she was always a battler and had a true fighting spirit. Robert Pilkington, Bradwell Belles

Doctor Dominic Malcolm, her tutor and senior lecturer at the university's School of Sport, today said: 'Sarah was a very gifted student and one of the strongest in her year.

'She was inspired by her own experiences in football and rugby and dedicated to develop opportunities for women and girls in all sports.

'She was a pleasure to teach and her lecturers and classmates have been shocked and saddened by her death.'

A neighbour of Sarah's, who did not wish to be named, said: 'She was such a bubbly girl and loved her sports.

'She was fiercely competitive and determined to succeed whether it be on the pitch or at university.