Born in Newport in 1935, Derek attended Lewis School Pengam and was capped for Welsh schoolboys. He played for his home club Newbridge before coming to Newcastle to study dentistry where he played for Medicals and became a close friend of Tynedale stalwart David Barker.

While Derek was studying dentistry and playing as a No 8 for Medicals he was selected for English Universities, Northumberland, Barbarians and was selected to play for England in 1960, qualifying through his English father.

As a great friend of David Barker he also did play several times for Tynedale in mid-week games.

Sadly a knee injury early in the 1961/62 season ended his international career just as he was being touted for the 1962 Lions tour.

Derek followed his illustrious playing career with an equally successful one within the RFU and was heavily involved with England Students and he became a full England selector in the late 1970s, helping build the team around captain Bill Beaumont who won the country's first grand slam for 23 years in 1980.

Derek was recognised for his services to rugby when he was made President of the RFU in 2002/2003.

Derek moved back to the North East in the early 2000’s where he lived in the Tyne Valley area.

Whenever Medicals didn’t have a game Derek was a regular attendee at Tynedale 1stXV matches both as a spectator and in the bar before and after the game.

Derek is survived by Ruth, his wife of 60 years, three children and seven grandchildren.

Derek will be a sad miss at Tynedale RFC and we send our deepest sympathies to Ruth and the family.

RIP Derek

Link to tribute on RFU Website