Roy Loughead

The Irish Rugby Football Union regrets to announce that former IRFU president Roy Loughead has died at the age of 72 following a short illness.

A life-long member of Bangor Rugby Club, Roy was a redoubtable prop in his playing days before moving into rugby administration where his integrity and diplomacy won over many friends.

During his playing days, he captained the then junior side Bangor to Towns’ Cup success in the early Sixties and along with the late Ronnie Boston and Con McCall was a guiding light as the seaside town moved into the senior ranks in 1969. 

They quickly made their mark after joining the elite with their famous midweek Bass Boston Floodlit tournament and then winning the first of six Ulster League titles in 1975 and including a hat-trick of successes between 1981-83. 

Roy was schooled at Bangor Grammar before becoming a teacher and for many years was Principal of Sullivan Upper Preparatory department in Holywood, County Down.

Following retirement from the game he went into rugby administration and into the schools’ system. He was an Irish Schools’ selector and also was manager of numerous touring teams.

He became Ulster Branch (IRFU) President in the 1981/82 season and served as IRFU President for the 2001/02 season, the first to have received that honour from the Bangor club.

He is survived by his wife Joan, daughters Mandy and Jane and son Jonathan.

The committee and staff of the Irish Rugby Football Union offers their condolences to his family and friends.