More than a year after Bryn Hargreaves, a former Super League player, was reported missing in America, his family has confirmed that his body has been discovered.
The former Wigan, St. Helens, and Bradford player’s employers notified the authorities in January 2022 after he failed to show up for work. However, Hargreaves’ whereabouts remained a mystery despite a significant police search operation in West Virginia and the hiring of a private investigator.
However, late Sunday night, his brother Gareth revealed on Facebook that his sibling had been discovered dead: He said, “RIP Bryn Hargreaves. “I can confirm that we have found Bryn after 14 months with the utmost sadness.
“We still do not know the cause of death or what actually happened on 3/1/22. Thanks to all those that have helped in the search. We would appreciate a little space and will keep you updated when we have any further information x.”
I’m in bits #heartbroken my beautiful son Bryn I can’t think of any words to describe the pain, wrote mother Maria on social media.
Before transferring to St Helens, the prop started his professional career in 2004 with Wigan, appearing 28 times. He continued on to make more than 100 appearances for the Saints, winning the Challenge Cup and the World Club Challenge, and participating in two Grand Final losses.
The Welsh international, however, gave up competitive athletics in 2012 at the age of 26. He immigrated to America and started working in the oil industry, citing his disenchantment with the sport, and was based in Morgantown when he vanished. His family raised worries about his mental health at the time of his initial disappearance.
The family then created a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise money for the private investigator’s hiring. His former clubs also supported the cause, with Wigan Warriors allowing relatives to hold fundraisers away from their stadium.
“Bryn had mental health issues and was in severe pain with his back from a car accident in December (2021),” Gareth explained last June amid the ongoing search. “He’d also been away from his family at Christmas. The most likely scenarios were that he decided to harm himself or had decided to disappear for a bit and come back.”
