SWANSEA Rugby Club have paid tribute to the father of Worcester Warriors flanker Sam Lewis who died suddenly on Monday.

Sam missed Warriors’ 29-28 Championship play-off final first leg win at Bristol last night to be with his family in Wales.

Sam joined Warriors earlier this year from Welsh region Ospreys.

Swansea Rugby Club posted a tribute to Roy Lewis on their website on Tuesday.

The full tribute is below:

“Swansea Rugby Club are very sad to have to announce the passing of former All White Roy Lewis. Roy, who played for the Swansea 1st XV from 1971 to 1985, died suddenly on Monday.

“He was a familiar friendly face on match day, making slow circumferences of the St Helens pitch, initially when his sons Ben, and later Sam were playing in the back row for Swansea, a position Roy also occupied in his later years at St Helens, though he began his Whites career in 1971 as a prop.

“Roy also had a keen eye for other talented young players at St Helens and a strong desire to see them develop the right way, as young people as well as sportsmen.

“Roy himself scored a try on his 1st XV debut on 8th September 1971 against a West Wales XV, one of 7 he notched up in the two positions. From 1979 Roy moved to the back of the scrum. He also played in the Swansea Athletic XV, Neath RFC, Wales Schools and Wales Students.

“Roy was a real gentleman whose quiet way belied a deep knowledge of the game. He was also a very self effacing personality, happy to enjoy the more recent success of his sons Ben and Sam and very supportive of them in their careers at Mumbles RFC, Swansea and later the Ospreys; ever present with his wife Sian, at matches in which they played. He will be sorely missed by the St Helens family and our sympathies go to his wife Sian and sons Ben and Sam at this difficult time.

“As the news is sadly, so sudden, we have no information yet of arrangements but will make these known on this website for those who wish to pay their respects, as we hear them. The wishes of the family of course will be paramount.”