HEARTFELT tributes have poured in after the tragic death of 20-year-old student Peter Cox. The former Petersfield rugby player, who died of a suspected heart condition while at Nottingham's Trent University on April 22, was described by pals as a "force of nature". Peter, from Catherington, near Horndean, was a former pupil of The Petersfield School and Alton College. A student of product design at Trent, Peter suddenly collapsed while making a card for a friend. He complained of feeling dizzy and tragically died moments later. "Specialist tests point towards a heart-related sudden death," said Peter's dad, Stuart. "Earlier on the day he died, he had explained to one of his flatmates that today would be known as 'Peter Cox's Great Day', as everything was perfect and life was treating him so well," he continued. "He loved the buzz of being in a big city, and was enjoying his course and all the people he met. "If any crumb of comfort is gleaned from something like that, if he was going to die, he died on his best day ever," he added. Born on October 16, 1987, the day hurricane winds tore across the south of England, Stuart added: "He came in with a bang and went out on his 'great day'." A keen sportsman, Peter represented Petersfield Rugby Club from the age of nine, starring in the Colts side and the senior teams. He also played for Hampshire and was selected for the England Elite programme with London Irish. Stricken dad Stuart added: "He was a six foot four, 14-and-a-half stone young man. He loved his sport and was very body conscious, working out in the gym every day. "He had just started playing rugby for the university, and scored a debut hat-trick after moving from second row to flanker against Lincoln University. He said that number six was his new position," he said. At Sunday's annual pub sevens tournament, hosted by Petersfield Rugby Club at Penns Place, an honorary team called Coxy's Windmill Inn featured many of Peter's friends, with shirts adorned with the number six. They reached the semi-finals. It is expected that Peter's name will be remembered through sponsorship of an annual trophy. "We are talking to Petersfield Rugby Club about sponsoring a man-of-the-tournament trophy on an annual basis, so that his name lives on with the sport he enjoyed," Stuart said. Andy Millar, a spokesman for Petersfield's respected rugby club, added: "He was highly regarded as a player and a very popular, highly thought of young man. "It says it all that 15 of his friends turned out to play in last weekend's tournament. "It is a great loss to his family, friends and the sport, and his family's intentions to sponsor the trophy as a memory to him is the best tribute you could have." As well as rugby, Peter's other passions included snowboarding and football. "He was also a fantastic snowboarder, representing Nottingham Trent at the inter-university snowboarding championships. He was basically having the time of his life," Stuart added. A keen Portsmouth football fan, Peter saw Portsmouth's FA Cup semi-final victory over West Bromwich Albion at Wembley – which left the club with a cup final date back at Wembley against Cardiff City on May 17. "We may leave his seat for the final empty to remember him by, or we may give it to his best friend to come along instead," Stuart added. Peter's name will also live on thanks to a charity fund established for the Wooden Spoon – a rugby charity supporting mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children – launched in his honour. "We didn't want people spending money on flowers, so we set up a web page for him at http://www.justgiving.com/peterjamescox,&quot">www.justgiving.com/peterjamescox," Stuart explained. "We already have in excess of £4,300, and the money will be used to help disadvantaged children to get into sport, which he would have appreciated," he added. Peter's funeral takes place next Thursday, May 15, at St Peter's Church, Petersfield, at 1.30pm. All Peter's friends and family are welcome to a celebration of Peter's life, of which he lived every moment to the full, hence bright colours are welcome, Stuart added. Family flowers only, butdonations are welcome to http://www.justgiving.com/">www.justgiving.com/ peterjamescox.