FRIENDS have paid tribute to a "fierce competitor," "club stalwart" and "good friend".

Jeff Simm, 67, died on Monday after a three-year battle with cancer.

Mr Simm started playing for Vickers Sports Club (now Hawcoat Park) Rugby Union in Barrow in 1966 and he was still involved with the club 50 years later. Over the years he held various positions on the rugby sections committee and also on the sports club's management committee.

The fierce competitor moved into the first team in 1969 and became club captain in 1976. His finest hour also came in 1976 when he was selected to represent Cumbria playing at hooker in the opening RFU County Championship match against Durham at Blaydon.

He became the first and still is the only player from the club to gain full county honors. Mr Simm played the second game against Northumberland and was on the bench in the third game against Ulster.

In those games he played against some of the North of England's top players, including Roger Uttley, Duncan Madsen and Malcolm Young.

He played in all the teams at the club, finishing in the fourth team the Vandals and playing into his 40s.

When his playing career finished he took his coaching badges. During his time as first team coach the club enjoyed successful years. He was responsible for much of the early development work for rugby union in the Barrow District and was an RFU coach mentor for the area. Mr Simm was part of the coaching set up with the Cumbria Under-21s and also had involvement with various county youth age group teams.

He gave his time coaching union within the local schools in what is predominately a league town.

Paul Burns knew Mr Simm for some 60 years, having attended school together. They became great friends through rugby. Mr Burns, a former Hawcoat RU player and a director at the sports club, said his friend invested so much of his life into developing young people for the club he loved and the wider rugby family.

Mr Burns said:"Jeff was a very good friend and I'll miss him. He was one of the good guys.

"Jeff was someone who if he wanted to do something, he did it to the best of his ability."

Mr Burns said his friend was not only a "great player" but a "great and innovative coach".

He said:"From day one with his illness he took a positive attitude.

"He was a fighter, in the nicest sense. He fought for the team and the club as a player and a coach. He wanted to get the best from himself and others."

John Horne, chairman of Hawcoat RU, announced Mr Simm's passing to members. Mr Horne paid tribute to a "former county player, club stalwart and good friend" who had lost his "brave and dignified battle with cancer". He said: "For those fortunate enough to have played alongside Jeff we knew him as a fierce competitor who never left anything out on the pitch. After his playing days as a hooker he showed the same commitment to our club either coaching or any other way he could help out. However, it is the last few years that Jeff will always be remembered for the courageous and inspirational way he has fought his illness, including organising charity days to raise funds for the Furness General Oncology Unit, who he constantly paid tribute to for the marvellous care he received." Mr Horne said everyone's thoughts are with the family.

Barrow Raiders coach Paul Crarey, who had great admiration for Mr Simm and shared a good friendship with him, said: "Jeff had a great passion for rugby union and he was the most genuine and honest bloke you could meet. He was so easy to chat to. Everyone has so much respect for him. He never moaned once about his illness."

Hawcoat Park RU will hold a minute's silence tomorrow at their away game at Bolton. They will repeat the tribute at their next home against De La Salle on September 10 so the club's teams and supporters can also observe a minute's silence for Mr Simm.

There will also be a minute's silence for Mr Simm on Sunday at Barrow Raiders home game against Keighley.

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