A minute’s silence was scheduled (11am) for the WRU’s Annual General Meeting in Port Talbot today (Sunday) after delegates were informed of his death.
Stuart Gallacher was a dual code international for Wales at rugby union and league but throughout his playing career he remained a stalwart of the Scarlets.
He remained involved in rugby throughout his life and became chief executive of the Scarlets before moving on to become the first chief executive of Regional Rugby Wales. He also served on the board of European Rugby Cup for many years.
Senior figures in Welsh rugby offered their condolences to his friends and family while paying tribute to his immense contribution to rugby both on and off the field.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “Stuart dedicated his life outside his family to the game of rugby and his contribution down the years will prove a fitting epitaph to his commitment and loyalty.
“His understanding and love for the game meant he was always able to contribute positively to important decisions which formed the road map for the development of the sport. I worked closely alongside Stuart for a number of years and count myself proud to have been able to call him a friend.
“He was a Scarlet through and through and his memory will always be closely associated with the club he loved so much.”
The departing chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union, David Pickering said, “Stuart was a giant of a man who made a massive impact on world rugby and his memory will live on throughout the game.
“He was a formidable player who could have won many more caps for Wales but of course he gained his further international honours after going north to rugby league.
“Nothing could keep him away from his beloved Scarlets and his contribution to their development as a club and region has been highly influential.
“In all his dealings he brought immense rugby knowledge to the table, both in Wales and beyond so the game of rugby owes Stuart a huge debt of gratitude.
“I have lost a great friend and I want to offer my condolences to his family and all his many friends at this very sad time.
“Rugby has lost one of its greatest supporters but Stuart’s memory will live on because of everything he has contributed to the game throughout his life.”
The president of the Welsh Rugby Union Dennis Gethin was leading a minute’s silence at the Union’s Annual General Meeting at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot.
He said, “Stuart was a close friend of so many people involved in Welsh rugby and all of us are aware of his incredible contribution to our game.
“He was also a great family man and I know his loss will be keenly felt, not just by his relatives but by everyone close to him.
“It is rare for anyone to achieve so much both on and off the field within our game but Stuart was an exceptional individual who gave so much.”
STUART GALLACHER THE PLAYER AND ADMINISTRATOR
A rampaging second row forward who could also pay in the back row, Gallacher learned his rugby at Llanelli Grammar School and played for Wales Youth three times from Felinfoel RFC before graduating into the Llanelli side. He made 200 appearances for the Scarlets between 1966-1970 and was the club captain for two seasons.
He played against the 1966/67 Australian tourists in Llanelli’s 11-0 defeat and led the club from the second row in their gallant 10-9 defeat against the 1969/70 Springboks. He also played 12 times for the Barbarians, featuring in their win over a Scotland XV, their defeat at Twickenham to the Springboks and on their 1969 tour to South Africa.
He played in the inaugural Wales B fixture against France B on 7 March, 1970 and then made his only appearance for the full Wales team against the French at Cardiff Arms Park on 4 April, 1970 in a game won 11-6 by the home side. That result stopped the French march to a possible Grand Slam and enabled Wales to share the title with the French.
In August, 1970 he turned professional with Bradford Northern and played for the club in the 33-13 1973 Challenge Cup final defeat at Wembley Stadium against Featherstone Rovers. He spent for five at Northern before switching to Keighley.
It was while he was at Keighley that he became a dual-code international, playing four times for Wales. He made his debut in the 21-8 win over France at St Helen’s, Swansea, on 16 February and then featured in the 12-8 defeat to England at Salford nine days later.
He then played in Wales’ two World Championship victories in November, when they beat New Zealand 25-24 at St Helen’s, Swansea, and France 23-2 at Salford four days later.
A former Policeman, he went into the carpet trade at the end of his playing career and returned to his native Llanelli to open his own carpet business. He was then enticed back into rugby union and became chief executive of Llanelli RFC and then the Scarlets.
He spent 13 year at the helm of his hometown club, overseeing the transition into professionalism, the move into regional rugby in Wales and the club’s move from its spiritual home at Stradey Park to Parc y Scarlets. During his time in charge the club reached three Heineken Cup semi-finals, won the Celtic League title and reached an Anglo-Welsh Cup final.
He became a director of ERC in 1999 and served through to the summer of 2014, when failing health forced him to step down. He was Chairman of the ERC Rugby sub-committee for five years.
He took over as chief executive of Regional Rugby Wales in 2009, the body that represents the four Welsh Regions, sat on the board of Celtic Rugby, was a committee member of LV=Cup and also had a stint as a member of the WRU board.
