James never got to see Jamaica qualify
In 2017, James Burke who represented Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games commited suicide at home in Leeds and his Mum has since released a book covering her experiences ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup scheduled for later this year.
‘In my Defence - Life After Suicide: The things no one tells you, but they should!’ By Sharon Burke was published in January and the author has won widespread praise on social media for her bravery on releasing a guide on such a tough subject.
In one chapter Sharon writes about living life on repeat, the hundreds of rugby matches she has attended, times she stood in the cold, the rain and the blazing sunshine. The moments when James would run over to collect his drink from her at the end of matches before trotting off to the changing rooms, replaying every second and desperately trying to spot the exact moment when things went wrong.