Regional chairmen make Gallacher tribute

The Chairmen of the four Welsh Regions have paid their own personal tributes to former regional rugby and Scarlets Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher who passed away last weekend.

 
A service of celebration for Stuart’s life and contribution to rugby will be held at Parc y Scarlets on Wednesday 29th October at 2.15pm, with doors open at his home region from 1.30pm.  At the request of his family and in keeping with the traditional colour of the Scarlets, guests attending the service are asked to wear an item of red.

Chairman of the Ospreys, Roger Blyth said:  “Whether as an opponent player, rival or fellow administrator in rugby, there was always one word associated with Stuart and that was respect.  We go back many years, I played against him and he was formidable as a player - we were then near rivals as Scarlets and Ospreys. It is a measure of the man that regardless of his first love of the Scarlets, he genuinely worked in the best interests of Welsh regional rugby as a whole. He was a huge figure in our game.”
Chairman of the Cardiff Blues, Peter Thomas said:  “I’ve known and worked with Stuart for more than 20 years and he has been a tower of strength at Scarlets and RRW and throughout Europe.  At every meeting he attended his presence was always felt.  He held the full respect of the most influential rugby men throughout Europe.  He was a true friend and will be sadly missed.”
 
Close friend and former Scarlets and Regional Rugby Chairman, Huw Evans said: “I am particularly proud of the very highest esteem in which Stuart was held, by everyone he met and worked with, from so many rugby playing nations. In all of these dealings he flew the flag for Wales superbly and created many friends and allies both personally and for us nationally. He engendered both respect for us and as importantly credibility and gravitas for our views.
 
“Stuart Gallacher will always be remembered for the strength of his character, the depth of his loyalty and commitment to his friends. For all his considerable presence and strength of view, he never took himself too seriously and was humble regarding all his numerous achievements. 
 
“He could also give it straight from the shoulder - he was honest in all regards. He was the best companion, overflowing with anecdotes with a wonderful sense of humour. To a man, anyone worth his salt in rugby and with real rugby values held him in the very highest regard and with outstanding fondness.  We have been uniquely privileged and blessed to have known him.”
 
Chairman of the Scarlets, Nigel Short said: “Stuart’s relentless support and passionate commitment and loyalty to champion our regional game has earned him respect throughout the game. He has been a hugely influential figure, a courageous man with straightforward rugby values.  He acted with strength and conviction and was an important adviser and great shoulder to me when I became Chairman of RRW through some very challenging times.”
 
Chairman of the Newport Gwent Dragons Martin Hazell said: “Stuart was a personal friend as well as a colleague. He helped me in every way possible and throughout 25 years of knowing him and working with him, he always showed great strength of character and a dogged nature that meant he never to give up.  He was a straight-talking man and I will personally miss him a great deal.”
 
Anyone wishing to make donations to honour Stuart’s memory are asked to give to Prince Philip Hospital c/o Adrienne Glendon, 1 Pentre Nicklaus, Llanelli SA15 2DE.