A young rugby star cruelly taken by cancer filled every minute of his 13 years with adventure, laughter and love for his family and friends.

Troy Philpott was given a fitting send-off as more than 200 people gathered to celebrate his life yesterday, with an eye-catching Optimus Prime truck carrying him to his final resting place.

Among those at Barham Crematorium were school friends, teachers and teammates from Canterbury Rugby Club, where he excelled as a promising youth player.

Many wore rugby shirts as they lined the road as Troy arrived on the back of the replica Transformers truck in a brightly-painted coffin with his name emblazoned on the side.

It was the kind of loud, colourful and impossible-to-ignore entrance which summed up his personality.

Archbishop’s School pupil Troy, affectionately known as ‘Troyboi’, died on April 18, just a week after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

His devastated family and friends could barely comprehend how such a fit, healthy, strong boy could have been taken so quickly.

Speaking at the service, celebrant Tara Snedden said the size of the gathering made it impossible not to feel the overwhelming support for his family.

But despite the obvious grief, she urged mourners to celebrate the life of an extraordinary boy and his achievements.

Troy was carried into the crematorium to World in Union - the 2011 Rugby World Cup Anthem sung by Hayley Westenra.

The many tributes painted a picture of a loving, adventurous, brave, caring and mischievous boy who his teachers adored, despite his less-focused academic approach to school.

There were moving and tearful tributes from his family and young friends, as well as his rugby coaches.

His older brother Kane, 19, said he felt robbed because there were so many things he wanted to teach Troy.

“He gave off such positive energy and I will never forget him and the way he went through life, always laughing even when the jokes were on him,” he said.

“We shared some amazing memories which I will never forget and I will pass them down to my kids and explain how much of an amazing uncle he would have been.”

Troy’s nine-year-old sister Lily wrote that he was “the best person in the universe” who was kind, talented and brave.

She said he danced like Billy Elliot around the kitchen and frequently lost his phone, bus pass and even his shoes.

Troy’s favourite songs were played during the service, among them You Want Me by Tom Zanetti, The Pretender by The Foo Fighters, You Don’t Know Me by Jax Jones and Shake That by Eminem.

One of his young pals, Felix, tearfully recited a short poem saying how lucky he was to have had a friend like Troy, which made it so hard to say goodbye.

Troy, of The Avenue, Hersden, threw himself into many outdoor and water activities, including swimming and scuba diving.

He excelled at BMX racing and was a Kent champion.

But his first love was rugby and he dreamed of playing for England.

His prowess and courage on the pitch were widely praised by coaches from the under-13s at Canterbury, who said he was fearless and never frightened of tackling a bigger opponent.

But it was his parents Inger and Del who painted the most poignant portrait of their beloved son, who was born with freckles and ginger hair and soon developed a cheeky grin that would win over everyone.

Del wrote that the moment Troy first opened his eyes and beamed at him will stay with him forever.

He recalled his many memories of Troy’s escapades and love of all things sporting.
He said that when his son started to play rugby, a “massive star” was born.

Inger said she “loved Troy every day” - so much so that she could burst - even when he had lost something or gone missing.

She said: “I loved his smile with those big blue eyes and smashing dimples. From the first day I saw him I knew he was mine.”

She described his adventurous spirit, his eagerness to try new things, even flying a plane, and his love of the beach and swimming.

“His heart was so big - nothing was ever a problem in Troy’s world,” she said. “He didn’t care for possessions, just people.

“Troy was my life, he was me and he was mine. The hole is so big that there’s no bottom. I’m lost, I’m broken and I will miss him always.”

The service was followed by a wake at Canterbury Rugby Club, where Troy’s coffin had been taken en-route to the crematorium to complete a lap of the field.