TRIBUTES have been paid to DK Rugby Club stalwart Richard 'Dick' Connett who has died at the age of 78.

The well-known former player and club president died on Saturday morning at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, after a long period of ill health.

He leaves a wife of 40 years - Marlene, four sons - Ian, Ben, Edward and Mark, and seven grandchildren.

In his youth, after moving from Devon to Dudley to study and work as an accountant, Richard enjoyed a long playing career with DK from the late 1950s to the 60s - and he was captain when the club moved from Penzer Street, Kingswinford, to Heathbrook, Wall Heath, in 1963.

In the early 1970s he turned to coaching and later moved onto the committee, becoming president from 1977 to 1980.

Richard, who lived in Kingswinford, also enjoyed playing and coaching roles with Worcester & Hereford where he also became president. He was also valued at North Midlands, where he had a spell as Chairman of Selectors of the county's senior side.

But a spokesman for DK said: “It was at DK that he really made his mark. He was a leading figure in a group of like-minded forward thinkers who masterminded DK’s rise from a club struggling to improve its fixture list in the amateur days to a side that progressed to the National Leagues.

“Though, the mark of the man was surely the proud dad who coached a young Ben, who overcame a shortage of players by organising weekly transport from DK’s spiritual home Tipton down to Heathbrook every Sunday.

“This led to a strong team spirit among the lads and they became a tight group, who later developed into a fine team.”

Richard's son Ben followed in his father’s footsteps to enjoy a long playing career with DK and two stints as captain.

The 39-year-old, who still plays in the second row for the first team, told the News: "It was very fitting that I got to play in the last home game he saw on January 21 against Burton."

He praised the staff at Russells Hall for the care they gave his dad in his final days - after he suffered a cardiac arrest and subsequently another stroke and he said: "The life he had in his later years was down to how mom cared for him."

A series of strokes since 2000 had left him unable to drive and he was forced to sell his contract cleaning business but Ben said: "I will always remember him as a larger than life character, always looking on the positive side of life.

"He always had time for everybody and he will remain my hero."

He said the family had been "astonished and overcome at the response and generosity of everyone's well wishes" following the loss of his dad whom he said had "been asked on more than one occasion to go and play rugby at a level higher than he was but he never did as loyalty was a big attribute of his and he enjoyed playing with his friends”.

Another of Richard’s successful proteges was Shaun Perry, DK's scrum half who went on to play 14 times for England.

Shaun, now a coach himself, said: “He showed me the love and passion for a sport I still do today.

"At the start of my rugby days he was quite a forceful character but as children you need that.

"We always looked up to him. I saw him more as a father figure. I owe a lot to the fact that he kept me involved with the sport.”

He added: “He was just a lovely bloke. Towards the last few years even with everything he was going through - he always smiled. He’ll be massively missed.”

Neil Shillingford, director of rugby at DK, said: "He was the first person I knew at DK - and over the years he did a massive amount for the club.

"He'll be dearly missed. He was well-liked by a lot of people."

Dai Scard, North Midlands disciplinary chairman, said he was "very sad" to hear the news of Richard's death.

He said: "He was a good rugby man, a huge influence at Dudley Kingswinford, which was the club he loved, and a great supporter of county rugby, both Worcestershire & Herefordshire and North Midlands.

"He had a great affinity with the players, he ran his committee well and he will be sorely missed."