Tributes paid to Gloucestershire rugby stalwart Gordon Sargent on first ...

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TRIBUTES have been paid to rugby stalwart Gordon Sargent on the first anniversary of his sudden death.

Gordon Sargent, 63, appeared for Gloucester and Lydney rugby clubs more than 500 times before he suffered a fatal stroke which shocked the Forest of Dean community.

Around 800 people attended Mr Sargent’s funeral last year which “speaks volumes for his popularity”, said Colin Henderson, 67, the club’s current manager.

“He was only ill for around a day or so and it is difficult to explain how big a shock it was and how much it affected the town, but it was huge,” said Mr Henderson.

Front row forward Mr Sargent died on June 25, 2013, and was known throughout the county simply as ‘Sarge’.

He had a long and notable career with Gloucester and Lydney, captaining both sides.

“He went from being fairly fit and able and to that happening within a couple of days. There are varying guesses, but if I said we had around 7-800 people at his funeral, I would not be far off.

“The town hall was full, the roads outside were full; it was amazing really. That speaks volumes for his popularity and rugby players from everywhere came to the funeral.

“As a rugby club, we had messages from all over the world. His death made a huge impact on the rugby community and all who knew him,” added Mr Henderson, who said Sarge worked as an insurance advisor.

Mr Sargent was born in Gloucester but lived in Bream for much of his life and represented Whitecroft and captained Lydney Secondary School before joining the Severnsiders at the age of 16. Mr Henderson said Sarge made his debut in the front row which he said would almost be “unheard of now.”

Lydney chairman John Nelmes said Sarge was involved in the club from until his death.

Mr Nelmes said: “He was the legend of Lydney, what more can I say. He was respected by a lot of people and he had an impact on the club for a great number of years.

“He was very much the front runner in bringing Duncan Bell to the club.”

Mr Nelmes said Sarge sadly died after bringing Bell to the Severnsiders, where the former England international remains as director of rugby, which he described as his “final episode” for the club.

Sarge went on to represent the county and England under-23s before moving to Gloucester in 1976 and becoming a mainstay of the side.

He earned a solitary England cap in a match against Ireland at Landsdowne Road in 1981 but within two years first-team opportunities with Gloucester had become scarce and returned to Lydney.

But when injuries took hold at Kingsholm, he was talked into making a Gloucester return and was soon a lynchpin of the side once again, playing for four more years until his retirement in 1987.

He then returned to his hometown club and served as coach on the committee until his untimely death.

Article source: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/01/28/canterbury-new-zealand-announced-irish-rugby-football-union-kit-sponsor-until-2020

Tributes paid to Gloucestershire rugby stalwart Gordon Sargent on first ...