English rugby league player found dead in hotel room

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BATLEY, England (AP) — An English rugby league club says one of its players has been found dead in his hotel room the day after a game in France.

Batley Bulldogs announced the death of Archie Bruce on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Bruce made his debut for Batley in a second-tier Championship match against French club Toulouse on Saturday evening local time.

Batley chairman Kevin Nicholas says in a statement that inquiries by French authorities are ongoing and the squad has delayed its return to Britain.

Bruce, a scrumhalf, recently joined Batley from amateur club Dewsbury Moor and made his debut off the replacements' bench in the 46-0 loss to Toulouse in the south of France.