The passing of former Bristol captain & Clifton’s Director of Rugby Matt Salter
Please help raise £5000 to support Matt Salter’s family.
As many of you know, our dear friend Matt Salter passed away recently.
His wife, Charlie, and the children are obviously devastated.
To help them, friends are asking the wider rugby community and network for support at this sad time.
Please see a link below
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Matt Salter will take place at Bristol Cathedral, College Green, BS1 5TJ, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 1 pm.
Matt’s family warmly invites all who wish to attend.
Please note the funeral service will be held privately, with attendance by invitation only.
The family remains deeply grateful for your understanding, love and support during this incredibly difficult time.
St Marys OB’s Tony White
Tony White, former St Mary’s OB captain and club legend, passed away at home on 16 January 2026, aged 78.
With over 63 years with the club, he made significant contributions both on and off the field, following in the footsteps of his father Jack and brother John, all of whom wore the green and black with distinction.
As a number 10, Tony demonstrated exceptional skills with hand and feet. He was renowned for his tackling ability and possessed a powerful handoff. His dummies were masterful, often deceiving not just the opposition but also his own teammates.
Condolences to Tony's wife, Moira, Sarah, Tom, and Hannah.
Funeral arrangements
• Tuesday, February 24, 2026
• 10:30 Funeral Service at Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood
• 12:00 Burial at Keynsham Cemetery (all welcome)
• 12:30 Return to St Mary’s Old Boys Trench Lane
No flowers please; donations to St Peter's Hospice Southwest or Teenage Cancer Trust.
John Doubleday RIP
The Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination is saddened to hear the passing of former Bristol & Gloucestershire prop John Doubleday, aged 69.
John made 314 appearances for the Bristol 1stXV, including being a member of the 1983 side that beat Leicester 28-22 in the 1982 John Player Cup final at Twickenham. He also made 80 appearances for Bristol United and four for Bristol A.
An obituary is available on the
Bristol Bears website.
The Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and former team-mates.
North Bristol - Steve Bold RIP
As a club, we are deeply saddened, devastated and shocked to hear of the sudden and unexpected passing of our NBRFC Chair, Steve Bold.
A fantastic servant to the club for all of his life, Steve started in our junior section and went on to play over 500 games for the senior club, captaining the men’s 2nd team and 1st team as Club Captain.
He went on to coach in both the boys and girls sections, and held many roles as a volunteer: Junior Chair, Director of Rugby, Club Secretary, before finally becoming our Club Chair, where he brought the club together and helped set a vision of “rugby for all” at North Bristol RFC.
Steve worked tirelessly to drive continual improvement, making a constant positive impact on the club and everyone in and around it. He was there every week, supporting every team alongside his Wife Sharmaine. They were always present, from the Unicorns through to our senior sides.
He always had time for anyone, often over a pint and would happily talk about rugby, the club, the Bears, or anything else. He listened, he cared, and he offered advice.
A huge Bristol Bears fan and a well respected member of the wider rugby community, he often appeared on local radio talking about all things rugby. He was a true gent in both his approach and manner.
We have all learned so much from him, and in such a short time the messages that have come flooding in paint a clear picture of a true club person! Kind, supportive, always there for anyone, and someone who loved his club and the wider rugby community.
A wonderful husband to Sharmaine and an amazing dad to Kaiya and Ellis.
We are all thinking of his family at this incredibly sad and difficult time. As always, the NBRFC family will rally around and offer all the support possible.
Steve made such a hugely positive and lasting impact on so many. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to call him a player, coach, chair, friend….Boldy.
Forever in our hearts 💙❤️
Martin Harrex, North Bristol RFC Secretary. April 27, 2026
Bristol Barbarians RFC
It is with great sadness that Bristol Barbarians RFC have announced that Don Pegler passed away earlier this week.
A club member, player, chairman and trustee, Don was with the club for over 60 years.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.RIP Don, a true Bristol Barbarians and British Gas RFC legend.
RIP Don
Sad News From The Vale
R.I.P. Neil Hutton
Neil Hutton has left the pitch for the final time.
His sudden, tragic passing while swimming will leave a huge hole in his family, the local community (Men Shed) and the rugby club that he loved so much.
Neil was Clevedon’s Club Captain in the 1985-86 season and who could forget his Collie dog patrolling the touchline as he played, causing no end of mischief. His senior rugby career was as a hooker, having spent his formative Colts years as a fly half!
He also played hooker for Bristol during that time and would often reminisce about his playing days to anyone that would listen - you may be one of them?
Neil has gone too soon, but won't be forgotten, that's for sure. Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents Geoff & Molly and their family at this sorrowful time.
Funeral arrangements will not be known for at least three weeks and will be posted here when they are.
Remembering John Raine
Clifton RFC will be holding a celebration of John Raine’s life on Friday 5, 2025 from 3 pm
It is often said that no one is bigger than a club, but some people become part of its very fabric. John Raine was one of those people.
From his playing days in the 1960s to serving 14 years as President, his passion, humour, and unwavering commitment shaped rugby for generations.
Clifton RFC will be holding a memorial for John on Friday, September 5, 2025, 3 pm at the club, and all are welcome to join us as we celebrate his life and legacy.
John will forever be remembered as kind, loyal, funny, and unforgettable.
The passing of Aretians’ Mike Allen
Funeral details added
Mike Allen
Mike touched the lives of so many, and Sue and the family would love for everyone who knew him to come together to celebrate his life and give him the farewell he so deeply deserves.
Date & Time: Friday 17th October, 10:15 am
Service: Westerleigh Crematorium
Wake: From 12 pm at Aretians RFC, a place that meant so much to Mike
Sue and the family have asked that there be no particular dress code and that flowers are not necessary. Instead, if you wish, donations in Mike’s memory can be made to Dementia UK, a cause very close to their hearts.
Mike will be so deeply missed but never forgotten. Let’s come together to honour him, share memories, and surround Sue and the family with love.
RIP Mike
The passing of St. Bernadette's OB stalwart Séan Broad
Funeral details added
Séan Broad
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you all that Séan Broad, stalwart member, 1st XV Captain and senior Officer of St. Bernadette's OB's RFC for well over half a century, passed away this morning (September 18, 2025) in hospital.
Séan had recently suffered complications after his lengthy battle against ill-health.
Séan also represented SBOBs at Bristol & District Combination member clubs' monthly meetings for many years.
Our thoughts and sincerest condolences go to Séan's wife, Jen, to their son, Matt, to all their family and friends, and to everybody at St. Bernadette's OB RFC.
Séan was a formidable opponent, but he was always a gentleman and a great character, epitomising community rugby at its best, both on and off the pitch.
Séan will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.
The funeral details are:
Date: Friday 17th October
11:30 am - Service at The Holy Family, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5DY.
12:45 pm - Committal at Canford Crematorium, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3PQ
The wake will then be held at The BAWA Club, Southmead Road, Bristol BS34 7RG
Suggested dress code from Seán's family - Club 'No 1’s' (optional).
All are welcome to join Seán's family at any point during the above schedule to celebrate Seán's life.
RIP Séan
The passing of former Dings player Paul “Jake” Lloyd
Paul “Jake” Lloyd
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Paul Lloyd — known affectionately to all as ‘Jake’.
A much-loved character and cherished member of the Dings Crusaders RFC family, Jake’s loss will be felt by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Jake was born in 1951 in Horfield, Bristol, one of nine siblings. The nickname “Jake” came from his childhood love of the 1950s radio show Jacob of Armitage. So taken was he with the character that his brothers began calling him Jake — a name that stayed with him for life.
Jake joined Dings Crusaders RFC in 1968 at just 16 years old, playing four games in his debut season. He quickly mastered the dark arts of front-row play — no small feat in those days — and by the following season had played 25 games, including nine for the 1st XV.
Between 1969 and 1976, Jake made 205 appearances for the club, most of them in the 1st XV.
From 1977 to 1984, his playing time was limited due to work commitments at Rolls-Royce, but he still managed 31 games during that period.
His return in 1982 marked a resurgence in form, and he continued to play at a high level, including appearances for Bristol Rugby Club where he held an unbeaten record in the first team.
Over an incredible 28 seasons at Dings, Jake played a total of 443 games — 315 of them for the 1st XV.
He was a natural rugby player: strong on either side of the scrum, with ball-handling skills that were rare among props of that era. Some remember watching him train at Lockleaze on Tuesday nights, running hard before stripping down to reveal his trademark black bin bag — his unique method of shedding a few pounds after travelling the world with Rolls-Royce.
In Jake's latter years, he took on a coaching role of the then Junior side that his son was playing in and took them to a Gloucester County Final played at the Memorial Ground.
