Cape Town: Six South African rugby players were feared drowned after being swept out to the sea at Port Elizabeth, Xinhua reported.

The players were having a swim to cool off after a training session when sea currents swept them out to sea Sunday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said in a statement here Tuesday.

Rescuers have found the body of one player and are still searching for five others who were believed to have drowned, said the statement.

The players are from the semi-professional Motherwell club, who were preparing for a tournament of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to be played in Cape Town over Easter.

A total of 21 people were swept out to sea at Port Elizabeth's Blue Water Bay and 15 of them were rescued on Sunday, said NSRI.

"This is a devastating tragedy," said SARU president Oregan Hoskins. "These young men were preparing to compete in a SARU Easter tournament in Cape Town in a fortnight and were enjoying a carefree day on the beach with their team-mates," said Hoskins.

"To have their afternoon turned into a day of tragedy is shocking for the whole rugby community and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families," he added. (IANS)