Burgess, who only took up rugby as a 20-year-old after leaving the Merchant Navy, was capped by Wales B against France in 1976, was a key member of the 1977 Triple Crown-winning side and, on his recall from the international wilderness in 1981, was promptly voted Welsh Player of the Year.
WRU Chief Executive Steve Lewis, a former scrum-half who spent seven seasons as an Ebbw Vale clubmate with Burgess, said: “Clive was an awesome player, physically competitive and immensely strong.
“Whenever you saw his name on the team sheet you knew you had a chance of winning any game. He was a tower of strength at Ebbw Vale and his mauling capabilities were legendary.
“He took over the mantle of Dai Morris as the unsung hero of the Welsh back-row and he will be sorely missed.”
