Beau St George, 33, died at the scene when his car smashed into another on a dangerous stretch of road between Valensole and Manosque in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Mr St George was in the country to marry his French girlfriend Herminie Gouard.

His mother Liz St George posted on Facebook, saying: "We're all devastated with the loss of our beautiful son Beau in a car accident in France yesterday. Just a few short weeks before his wedding to the love of his life”.

She posted a photo of Mr St George with fiancee Herminie Gouard and their young daughter Joan.

Friend Kevin Manderson met Mr St George when he was working in the Illawarra for several years and played league for the University of Wollongong.

It’s believed he based himself in the region in between stints working remotely as a sheep shearer.

“If he had two shoes and one shoelace and you needed it, he’d be working barefoot. That’s just the kind of guy he was,” Mr Manderson said.

“Whenever we needed help, or needed to move, there was no question you’d shoot him a text and he was there.

“[Herminie] and Beau are just two genuinely honest, awesome people.”

Owner of Full Circle MMA Russell Thompson who trained Mr St George for some time said he was a loving, genuine guy with “old school values”.

While friend and former Dragons star James Storer posted on Facebook, describing him as “one of the best guys you would ever meet, with a young family, love you brother”.

The accident happened around 6am Thursday (French time). Another man was also injured and taken to hospital for treatment.