Tribute to 'legend' of rugby club following his death

A Suffolk rugby club have paid tribute to a "legend" following his death.

Bury St Edmunds RC have remembered "immensely popular figure" Mark 'Munro' Williams after he died on Sunday following a battle with myeloma.

Mr Williams first joined the club in 1994 as their first team forwards coach.

In a tribute, the club said: "Over the course of the next few years, Mark had a profound effect in his role and earned immense respect from many.

"Over the years, he did so much to help out in countless aspects of club life, but the Men’s 1st XV in particular owe him a tremendous debt.

"The breadth and depth of the work Mark did behind the scenes for his beloved Wolfpack, will perhaps never be fully comprehensible. But without this work, it is certain they simply would not be where they are today."

After his role as a coach, Mr Williams moved into an administrative role.

Travel, kit, procedures, policies, regulations, accommodation, governing body directives, player registrations, overseas player registrations, pitches and opponent communications were all things Mr Williams picked up during the week.

The tribute added: "His influence extended far beyond Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club; he had friends everywhere.

"Visitors to The Haberden knew they would be greeted with a warm smile, a generous spirit, and, if they were particularly unlucky one of his famous jokes – but the less said about those the better.

"It brings great comfort to know that our heartbreak will be shared by so many across the wider rugby community – a true mark of the man and his profound effect on our great game.

"He was the epitome of a clubman and the very best example of a volunteer our club has ever seen."