A GRIEVING mum has said her tragic rugby player husband could still be alive today if he had more mental health support.
Paige Canning was 32 weeks pregnant when husband Liam took his own life in September 2024.
The dad, who played for Rossendale Rugby Club in Lancashire, was described after his death as a “gentle giant” with a “positive spirit”.
Paige has said that Liam had reached out to people while struggling with his mental health.
But she says having an easily accessible mental health lead at his rugby club could have helped him.
She said: “He did reach out to people at the time, unaware to me.
“So I think if there was someone there contactable so easily, then maybe it would have saved his life.”
Paige said that Liam “lived for rugby” and that the sport was his “out”, adding: “it helped him mentally throughout all of his years”.
She added: “I think without rugby, he might have been gone sooner.”
The mum has since thrown herself into fundraising in Liam’s memory and was this week handed the Rugbyness Award at the 2026 LooseHeadz Community Awards.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
The gong recognises positive contributions to the rugby community.
Paige also plans to run two marathons next year to raise funds for rugby’s mental health charity.
She added: “Now I’ve gone through such a hard mental time, now when I’m running, I’m like, ‘there’s nothing harder than that’.
“So just keep running, even though it’s hard, there’s nothing harder than you’ve been through.
“So yeah, just keep running and pounding the tarmac in his memory.”
Paige also said that Liam’s rugby teammates rallied around her and son LJ after his death.
LooseHeadz works to place mental health champions in rugby clubs to provide support for players and coaches.
Co-founder Dave Nicoll, said: “Nobody should ever have to face what Paige has gone through over the last few years.
“It takes incredible strength to face such adversity and find a way to turn something so painful into something positive.
“We couldn’t be more touched to have Paige and little LJ honouring Liam’s memory by supporting LooseHeadz.
“Their strength, courage and commitment to keeping Liam’s memory alive is incredibly special, and we’re truly grateful to have them as part of the LooseHeadz family.”
For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
