The wife of a former Wharfedale rugby player has paid tribute to her husband who was killed in a motorbike crash on the Isle of Man at the weekend.

Antony Capstick, 36, of Hellifield, died in hospital on Saturday after suffering a serious head injury in the incident on Friday.

His wife Jane, who is originally from Skipton, and her mother Wendy travelled to the island to be with him and his brothers Neil and Martyn in his final hours.

Antony and Jane married in November last year at St Aidan’s Church in Hellifield and Mrs Capstick is pregnant with their first child, which is due in September.

Mr Capstick had been on holiday in the Isle of Man with friends and family to watch the TT races.

Inspector Derek Flint, of the Isle of Man Constabulary, said Mr Capstick was involved in a collision at about 1.40pm on Friday at the Graham Memorial on the mountain section of the A18 Mountain Road.

He said: “The gentleman was airlifted to hospital but sadly later died from his injuries.”

In September last year Mr Capstick was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and his wife said he had battled through complications from the heart disease and had to spend three weeks in hospital.

“Antony had recently fought his way back to relative health after a life-threatening heart condition,” she said. “It was in his nature to get on with things.

“A great number of people had expressed their feelings to him during that recovery and it is a great consolation that he knew so many people cared so deeply for him, before his sudden passing.

“Antony received first-rate medical care and his loved ones were supported by a number of friends and island residents during the whole incident.

“The family would like to express their deepest thanks for all the heartfelt messages and condolences. He was a dearly loved son of Bryan and Phyliss, brother, husband, friend and would have been an amazing father too – a true gentleman in every way.”

Mr Capstick, whose nickname was ‘Clopper’, was well known in the Craven rugby union community. He played first team rugby for North Ribblesdale and Wharfedale clubs, ending his long rugby career at Wharfedale in 2009. He also had many friends at Skipton RUFC.

Michael Harrison, chairman of rugby at Wharfedale, paid tribute to Mr Capstick.

“The club is extremely sad about the whole issue,” he said. “Antony was an extremely loyal, hard working and very successful first team player.

“He played 247 times for the first team incredibly and he had 216 National League appearances.

“He was always positive and one of the most popular members of the first team. He was extremely well-liked right around the club.”

Mr Capstick attended Settle High School and Craven College before earning a degree in computer science at Leeds University. He worked at Sutcliffe Construction in Hellifield.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised.