HAMPSHIRE rugby is mourning the "loss of a legend".

Dick Birch was a familiar face on the county rugby circuit as a former captain and club chairman of Ellingham and Ringwood RFC in the New Forest and through his involvement with Hampshire Under-19s.

He died suddenly last week soon after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was 50.

Tributes have been flooding the message board of the Ellingham and Ringwood club website in tribute to a man they describe as a "legend".

E&R chairman Steve Benson said the club had been left "shocked and terribly saddened" by his death.

"Dick became a legend at the club," said Mr Benson.

"He contributed so much as a player, a coach and as a member of the committee. Some of his greatest achievements were coaching our women's team to victory in the National Shield and his involvement in the successful Hampshire Under-19s side.

"However, most of us will simply remember him as a tremendous club man, who was a great role model, particularly for our junior players.

"Our thoughts are with (his wife) Kate and the whole of his family".

Originally from Leicester and a keen Leicester Tigers fan, Birch first joined Poole Rugby Club when he was posted to Hamworthy with the Royal Marines.

When he met Kate the tight head prop moved to Ringwood in the mid-1980s and joined E&R RFC, captaining the first team in 1990 and 1994 before becoming chairman from 2003 to 2005.

He had recently retired from the services after 30 years' service, during which time he saw action in the Falklands and Bosnia.

Neighbouring club Romsey also paid their own tribute.

A statement on the Romsey RFC website said: "There are many characters in the game we play and Dick Birch was one of them."

Birch leaves his wife, Kate, three sons Sam, Ben and Tom, a daughter Laura and two grandchildren Amber and Owen.

His funeral will be held at St Peter and St Paul's Church in Ringwood next Monday, June 26, at 1.45pm and the family have asked that as many friends as possible join them for a drink at Finn McCoull's in Ringwood Market Place.