Harlequins captain Rob Purdham says he considered quitting rugby and returning to the family farm in Cumbria following the death of his brother Garry.

Semi-professional player Garry Purdham, 31, was one of 12 people shot dead by Cumbria gunman Derrick Bird on 2 June.

Rob Purdham told BBC Sport: "There's such a big hole left from where my brother was and there's so much to do.

"I just felt a part of me needed to stay there. I don't want to try to be him but just to fill the void he left."

Purdham, 30, played with his brother Garry at Whitehaven for three years prior to his move to the London Broncos, as Harlequins were then known, in 2002.

He was given compassionate leave by Quins to return to Cumbria in the aftermath of the shootings as he helped his family come to terms with the tragedy and arrange his brother's funeral.

Purdham was given compassionate leave by Harlequins after the tragedy

Garry Purdham was a father of two, who was a farmer in addition to playing for Workington.

"He's left two boys up there, my nephews, my mam and dad and things, all the farm work and things like that," Rob Purdham added.

"Just try to help. But like his wife said, he would have wanted me to do the best in my career and maybe one day go back up to Cumbria, so that's what we ended up doing."

The Rugby Football League has arranged a match between England and a Cumbrian XIII in Whitehaven on 3 October, to raise money for Garry Purdham's dependents.

A full interview with Rob Purdham can be heard on BBC Five Live between 2130-2230 BST on Tuesday 13 July.

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