FORMER rugby club colleagues have paid tribute to a businessman who was killed by robbers - describing him as a "great player and a nice bloke."

Fred Picton-Turbervill was shot dead during a raid on his home in the suburb of Waterkloopf Ridge, in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday night.

He was shot in the eye, in front of his wife Ursula and young children Samantha, 10, Bryony, nine, Natasha, six, and Gregory, three, by intruders who demanded valuables.

His wife, neighbours and paramedics tried to save his life, but he died after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The robbers fled with a laptop, four cellphones and about 1,000 South African rand in cash.

Mr Picton-Turbervill, 46, and a father-of-six, had captained the Burnley Rugby Club first team from 1984 to 1986. playing against teams from across Lancashire, and played as a centre for the team until 1992.

He emigrated to South Africa three years ago after running a successful furniture design business in Burnley. He had also lived in Colne and Barrowford.

Club chairman Phil Harbour said:"We have been deeply saddened to hear about his death. He was a really nice man who was very well liked and respected. Our thoughts go out to his family"

Michael Duerden, 48 from Burnley, who played on the same team as Mr Picton-Turbervill said:"Fred was a lovely man and one of the most talented players we have had.

"He was captain of the first team from 1984 to 1986 but then moved to a team near Liverpool. He came back to play for us from 1990 to 1992.

"Fred was a really nice man and a very good captain. He was very dedicated to the team, as you would have to be as a captain, attending every match. He also organised the first tour abroad to Frankfurt in Germany.

"He was very friendly and a really nice bloke to be around. I've been in touch with some of the other players who knew him and they are all shocked and upset by the news.

"Our thoughts are with his family."

The couple, whose first three children are believed to have been born in Burnley, were aware of their Pretorian suburb's reputation as a high-crime area when they moved out there.

Electric fencing and two-metre high walls surrounded their home, which is in the same area as that of South Africa's chief of police, Jackie Selebi.

South African police are investigating how the robbers managed to penetrate the Picton-Turbervill's heavily-fortified compound.

No arrests have been made so far.

Picton-Turbervill's son from a previous marriage, Jamie, 21, and his mother Cathryn have travelled from Britain for the funeral - which is scheduled to take place tomorrow.