THE twin babies of Keighley Cougars star Danny Jones, who died from a heart attack during a match, will now be tested for inherited heart conditions, says the club's coach.

Hundreds of family, friends and fans mourned at Mr Jones' funeral took last Friday, which also celebrated the life of the popular 29-year-old stand-off.

A post-mortem examination showed the Welsh international suffered a cardiac arrest caused by unknown hereditary heart disease.

And his close friend and Cougars player-coach Paul March has said Mr Jones's widow Lizzie will now get health checks for their five-month-old twins Bobby and Phoebe at the earliest opportunity.

“The family will obviously do what's best for them and the twins will be tested and hopefully everything will be clear," Mr March said.

He said that it was uncertain when any tests might take place as this sometimes depends on children's physical development.

"Hopefully every will go well and then there won't be any wondering whether or not there could be any problems," Mr March said.

He also called for greater awareness of the risk of heart problems among rugby players and for the sport's governing bodies to organise a comprehensive cardiac screening programme.

"All players need to know that they are safe when taking the field," he said.

"That's especially true of those playing at championship level, who should all be fully tested.

"And even if some players ,may need to pay for their own tests, there should be advice on where to go and the best way to do that."

Mr March said the funeral in Halifax for Mr Jones had been a worthy celebration of his life on and off the pitch.

"Everybody wanted a fitting tribute and that's just what it was," he said.

"I'm so proud of the way our players Scott Law and Neil Cherryholme stood up and managed to speak so well at the funeral.

"It was a good way to celebrate just what Jonesy was all about," Mr March said.

In a message to Cougars' fans soon after his death, Mrs Jones said: "Danny was the best daddy and husband in the whole world, he made us smile every single day. I want everyone to remember his passion and commitment and most of all his contagious infectious smile."

A fund set up by the RFL in Mr Jones' memory which will go to support his family has already raised more than £150,000 with club chairman Gary Fawcett hopeful the final figure might reach £1 million after future fundraising events.

Cougar Park in Keighley will also have its main stand renamed as the Danny Jones Stand in his honour.

To make a donation to the Danny Jones fund, visit justgiving.com/danny jones29.