Rugby legend Bryn Hargreaves’ body has been discovered 14 months after he disappeared in the US, his heartbroken brother has revealed. The ex-Super League player mysteriously vanished last January, leaving all of his belongings behind and his shower still running in his flat. The cause of his death has not yet been determined.
His brother Gareth broke the tragic news to his Facebook friends on Sunday.
He wrote: “RIP Bryn Hargreaves. With incredible sadness I can confirm after 14 months we have finally found Bryn.
“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.”
Police first searched Bryn’s flat, just outside the city of Morgantown, in January last year.
When they arrived, officers found that the door was unlocked and his shower was still running with all of his belongings still inside the house.
Police launched an investigation to find the missing Wigan rugby star, and his family even hired a private investigator – but the no avail.
But 14 months later, the 36-year-old player’s body was discovered over the weekend. His cause of death has not yet been determined.
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Bryn’s mum, Maria Andrews, responded to the news, writing: “‘Not something I wanted to be sharing. I’m in bits #heartbroken. My beautiful son Bryn. I can’t think of any words to describe the pain xx.”
Hargreaves, who played in the Super League for Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Bradford Bulls, divorced his wife Amy in 2020 and retired from the sport and moved to West Virginia, US at 26.
He began working in the oil and gas industry in the US 10 years ago.
Gareth said his brother was feeling isolated during the coronavirus pandemic, revealing that his brother may have been struggling with mental health issues.
“But he believed Bryn was in a poor mental state, and he had more evidence to back that up.
“He believed he was more likely to have committed suicide, which we knew was a strong possibility. He wanted to search the lake again because he believed the initial search had some vulnerabilities. But the police wouldn’t grant that.”
Bryn Hargreaves was born in Wigan, UK, and played for the Warriors in the Super League. He won the Challenge Cup with St Helens in 2008 before he moved to the US.
