Rugby star Paul Sackey plays again after cousin’s shooting

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The flying winger made his debut for top French club side Toulon at the weekend, less than two months after 35-year-old Michael Ofori was murdered as he sat in his car.

Scotland Yard's Trident unit is hunting the killers. Mr Ofori was repeatedly shot in the head from point blank range in a gangland-style execution in Bellingham, near Bromley, in June.

London-born Sackey, 30, who has 22 England caps, told of his heartbreak over the murder of his cousin before his Toulon debut.

He said it was a "tough time" after he switched from London-based Wasps to the Mediterranean coast in June.

Sackey said: "I've really settled in here now, but it was tough at first because there were some family things to deal with.

"My cousin got shot in the head and he died. He was just sitting in his car and someone came up and shot him. We were really close. He used to come to all my matches with Wasps and he had already booked flights to come out here and watch me play my first game for Toulon.

"He helped me pack before I left and I saw him the night before I moved to France, at my brother's place. Whenever I had any free time I was flying between Toulon and London to see my mum, my aunt and other relatives."

He added: "It was a real struggle. There hasn't been a funeral yet —because it was murder, they've had to keep the body.

"Things are now back to normal a bit more. I've been able to start really concentrating on my rugby."