A former Blue Bulls rugby player was arrested on Tuesday in connection with at least three axe murders, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

 A fourth man managed to escape.

One of the victims in the suspected revenge killings was decapitated.

Police spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said the former rugby player was arrested at a home in Durban in the early hours of the morning.

The 34-year-old suspect, who'd played for the Blue Bulls in both the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup, was arrested at a home in Durban.

Police refused to name him.

The team investigating the murders in Umbilo, Lamontville and Yellow Wood Park confiscated an axe and blood-stained clothing, said Mdunge.

Police suspect that the axe they found is the murder weapon.