TRIBUTES from across the rugby and sporting world have been paid to prop forward, and captain, Gordon Sargent, who had a long and distinguished career as a player with both Lydney and Gloucester, who has died at the age of 63.

He made around 200 appearances for the Gloucester team between 1976 and 1987, and came off the bench to play in the 1982 cup final.

He was also a regular with the Gloucestershire side - appearing for them in three County Championship Finals. He captained the county for the 1985-6 season.

Not widely known, he also played for England at Under 23 and B levels, and was awarded with one full international cap.

He also played for the Barbarians in the 1981 Mobbs Memorial match and on the 1981 and 1982 Easter tours of South Wales.

After retiring as a player, he became first the coach and then director of rugby at Lydney, where he also was a member of the committee, and worked as team administrator.