A JURY will decide how a talented rugby player and coach died on a Colchester building site.

Dave Holloway, 35, a New Zealander, died on the JR Pickstock site, off Haven Road, just two days after starting work there.

He was killed when a cage carrying building supplies fell on him shortly before 8am on January 8, 2014.

Mr Holloway had been working as a “slinger signaller’’, who selects and attaches lifting gear to a load.

Yesterday, Essex Coroner Eleanor McGann listed Mr Holloway’s inquest for one week, in May.

She also took the rare step of calling a jury to hear the evidence, which only happens in serious cases.

Representatives from the Health and Safety Executive, Select Plant Hire, which owned the crane which was carrying the cage, sub-contractors 4D Structures and JR Pickstock, which ran the site, were at a preinquest review in Chelmsford.

Mr Holloway’s family were not present, but a message to Mrs McGann stated they would be in the country for the inquest next month.

Rugby coach Mr Holloway had set up home in Colchester with fiance, Nicky McCloy.

They were set to marry on a game reserve in South Africa last November.

A serious ankle injury suffered a few years ago curtailed his promising rugby-playing career, but he devoted much of his spare time to coaching and led training sessions with youngsters at Colchester Rugby Club.