FORMER international rugby union referee Alan Welsby has died suddenly at the age of 69.

A former games master at Manchester Grammar School, he became one of the most respected officials in the game, acting as an assessor after retiring.

His son-in-law, former Sale Sharks prop Phil Winstanley, said: "Alan's death came as a terrible shock. He had recently returned from a holiday in Tenerife but was suddenly taken ill and died in hospital."

The funeral service will be held at St Wilfred's Church, Standish, Wigan tomorrow at 11.45am. Tweet