Mourning the loss of a great rugby servant.

The Canterbury Rugby Union is today mourning the loss of former Chairman and club rugby stalwart David Rhodes, who passed away in Christchurch overnight surrounded by loved ones, aged 72.

Spending 12 years on the Canterbury Rugby Union board, six as Chairman, Rhodes committed much of his life to rugby, including over 60 years to Sydenham Rugby Club as a player, coach and then administrator. He also dedicated 7 years to the Crusaders board before serving as Vice President and then President of the New Zealand Rugby Union between 2013-2017, following in the footsteps of his father Charlie, who was also a President of the Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby Unions.

“He will be very missed,” said CRFU Chairman and close friend, Peter Winchester.

Affectionately known as Rhodsey, David, who enjoyed all sport, clearly had a passion for rugby. It didn’t matter if it was the red and blue of Sydenham, red and black of Canterbury, Crusaders colors or the black strip of the All Blacks, he was just so passionate about it.

“His dedication to club rugby was something I’ll never forget, no matter where it was in the country, he never declined an invitation to represent Canterbury or New Zealand Rugby at the grass roots, whether it was an invitation to a jubilee or a centenary or a fundraising night, Rhodsey would always be there, so too his wife Caroline.”

“He was so busy and dedicated to New Zealand Rugby, that we once joked that we’d made a cardboard cut-out of him, which we stood up at Sydenham Park every Saturday just so people could be reminded of what he looked like. He really enjoyed the banter around that sort of thing, but that too epitomised the sort of person he was, dedicating himself to others and to rugby.”

“When he finished his term as President (of NZR), I asked him what he was going to do in rugby and he had a simple answer, which was ‘nothing official.’ He just wanted to watch Sydenham play on a Saturday afternoon, have a beer at whatever ground they were playing at but continue to help out at the club where and when he could.”

Whilst a dedicated rugby man, it never came before his family, leaving behind wife Carolyn, daughters Paula and Bronwyn and 2 grandchildren Charlotte and Tom.

David Rhodes was elected to the Canterbury Rugby Football Union Board in 1999 and became Chair in 2005 until 2011.

Canterbury Rugby Football Union wishes to pass on their condolences to Carolyn and the wider Rhodes family at this time of sadness.