RIP Roger Vanderfield
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:14
Former International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman and international referee Roger Vanderfield has died aged 80, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Sunday.
Vanderfield was also a past ARU president and was considered one of the architects of the World Cup, established in 1987, the Union said.
He refereed more than 1,200 games between 1952 and 1976, including 14 Tests and 18 other international matches.
He was IRB chairman when Australia and New Zealand lodged a joint feasibility study for the creation of a World Cup tournament in 1985.
"His contribution over a long period of time was magnificent," ARU president Paul McLean said in a statement.
"As an international referee, a president of the ARU and chairman of the IRB, there were few in the rugby world who could match his commitment to and standing in our game."
Vanderfield was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976.
