For a full minute and beyond, the life of fallen Brumby Shawn Mackay was marked in Canberra Stadium, which echoes with past victories and heartbreaks, too by a noise ripe enough to split the darkening skies. In the moments before the giant screen images of Mackay who died last Monday in a South African hospital after earlier being struck by an armoured vehicle and succumbing to an infection the crowd hushed and the Brumbies, guided on to the field by a guard of honour of young rugby players, gathered in a circle, together and as one.

But the markings of pain and grief, of love and respect are rarely quiet things. And so, heeding the call to ''give it up for Shawn'', the thundering hands of the 14,565-strong crowd paid tribute to a life cut short.

They stayed when the rain began to fall, lightly at first, then in great sheets, huddling under eaves or plastic coats. From the first touch to the last, they stayed, fixed to seats by pride. United in support.

The Brumbies celebrated their mate in their own way.

By winning.

The anguish of their loss was in plain view, strapped around arms in black strips. The armbands, a mark of respect, will be worn each time the team takes to the field for the remainder of the season.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times