Very sad. There is an article in today's League Express with Jon Clarke (his brother in law) saying how heartbreaking it has been seeing him deteriorate. The charity bike ride from Cork to Warrington set off only yesterday and Paul was there to see them off, very sad he won't now be able to welcome them into Warrington on Thursday.

Heard this rumour this morning but didn't want to post anything incase it wasn't true.

Paul used to come to Birchwood High in the school holidays and do coaching sessions. He would always wind me up beacuse i would always wear my Salford top.

Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends.

RIP Paul.

so sad..r.i.p paul..

Sad, sad news. Condolences to all his family. A minutes silence/or applause before Friday's game would be a great gesture.

R.I.P Paul always a hard working player and coach and provided many years service. Very sad to be taken far too soon.

Will always especially remember him doing caretaker coach duty and leading us to a win against Bradford, Rob Smyth went in at the corner and we went bananas.

Hearing things like this really can give you a dose of reality and what's important. I've been whingeing all morning at work about trivial little annoyances blighting my day, then I come on here to read this and realise how insignificant it all is.

RIP Paul Darbyshire

Really sad, just seen it on the Guardian Website and Brent Grose has left a comment on there with a nice tribute to Paul.

RIP Paul. He was my coach when I played for the U16's Warrington Schoolboys. Great bloke, with a fantastic sense of humour!!

I echo everything thats been said above, its very sad to hear of anyone passing away at such a young age. I didn't know Paul personally but i grew up knowing him as a player on the pitch like many others on the forum, he was tough and uncomprimising and gave nothing less than 100% each game.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.... RIP Paul

As a Widnes fan, I agree with that totally. Always stood up, didn't back down and was always in your team when available.

Very popular with his team mates at the time I believe, for all the hard graft he put in for you every week.

RIP Paul, from a Birchwood Chemic.

Oh gosh. RIP Paul and condolonces to all his family and friends in this sad time.

No Age.

God Bless

terrible news RIP

RIP, so sad to go so young

So sad, I'm that ignorant I didn't even know he was suffering from the illness. Top man, I remember him taking me giving him stick about Saints beating Warrington with great humour and class when he came to do a coaching session at our school once. He even stayed behind to watch some drama thing we'd done about the life of a rugby player.