If anyone needed an indication of how well respected former Wallaby Dan Vickerman is in Australian rugby circles, just ask today's crop of ACT Brumbies.
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The rugby community is in mourning after Vickerman passed away at the age of 37 on Saturday night, leaving behind his wife Sarah and two children.
Tributes poured in from around the world as the tragic news reverberated around the game.
The former Brumbies and NSW Waratahs lock was remembered by former teammate and current ACT coach Stephen Larkham as the sort of person he always wanted to play alongside.
"It's very sad and tragic news and my heart goes out to Sarah and the kids," Larkham said.
"Dan was a well-respected individual in the rugby community and someone that the players looked up to. He was uncompromising and consistent and was certainly one of my favourite players to play with
"At our pre-season camp when we asked the group to select their greatest ever Brumbies team, Dan polled on a number of the lists which shows the respect in which he was regarded."
Australian Rugby Union chief operating officer and former Brumbies boss Rob Clarke says the game has been rocked by losing one of its favourite sons.
"It's a tragedy ... he was a gentle giant of a man, a wonderful player," Clarke said.
"As you saw with Phil Waugh's comments, when you had Dan in a jersey running out beside you, you felt an extra level of confidence and that was the sort of guy he was.
"To have something like this at his age of 37, with a young family, is just simply beyond belief and everybody in rugby is mourning him."
Clarke says counselling is being offered by the ARU and the Rugby Union Players Association to all those affected, especially those that shared a dressing room with Vickerman.
"I think it's something that we as administrators need to continue to be ever vigilant on," Clarke said.
"The transition of being a professional sportsman into the world after sport can be challenging.
"We've seen it in a number of sports, and we are looking at how we can invest expertise and resources to try and help smooth that transition for all of our players, and I know a lot of the other sports are as well."
Vickerman departed Canberra for the Waratahs in 2004 and retired with 63 Test caps to his name and three World Cup appearances to boot.
The Cape Town-born Wallaby took a hiatus from international rugby to study at Cambridge University in England, where he earned a degree in land economics.
Injuries brought the curtain down on Vickerman's playing career and he moved into real estate following his retirement from football.
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