UPTON Rugby Club is in mourning after a double tragedy over the festive period.

First team player Nathan Tomkins, known as Tank, died on Christmas Eve aged just 22. And 14 days later, club stalwart and fixture secretary Nigel Banwell, aged 63, fell ill and died before a game on Saturday, January 7.

Club treasurer Rob Heeley said: "Nathan was a natural rugby player, one of the best players we had, a very popular first team player. He will be very badly missed by so many people."

Mr Tomkins, a former Hanley Castle High School student, lived in Earls Croome and worked for a local contractor. He leaves his parents and two brothers.

A Facebook tribute page set up in his memory has attracted more than 500 members, with family members, friends, colleagues and teachers posting memories and photographs.

One poster, Matthew Scanlan, said: "I had the pleasure of teaching Tank for five years and coaching him rugby. He was a superstar! A lovely lad and a very talented sports performer. His determination and iron will stood out. A combative opponent, super team mate and always smiling."

A funeral service is being held at noon on Friday, January 27, at Upton parish church, followed by burial at the Woodland Burial Site near Strensham and a wake at the rugby club.

The family is asking mourners to wear bright colours rather than black to give Mr Tomkins a fitting send-off.

President Maurice Bottomley said: "In the space of two weeks, the club has lost one of its most gifted players and one of our longest-serving supporters. Two truly inspirational figures from different generations, and both true Upton rugby men.

"As a club, Upton were fortunate to have Nigel within our ranks. I have no doubt that Nathan was out of the same mould, that occasionally produces such fine people who are willing to devote so much of their time and efforts to the game, and club, we all love so much.

"Without such stalwarts rugby would not be the game it is, where people like Nathan and Nigel put themselves out to support others, and enjoy themselves in the company of like-minded people.

"From a personal and professional position I offer my deepest condolences to both the Tomkins and Banwell families and know that my fond memories of Tank and Nigel will help me to get through the coming weeks. Two great men who died too soon."

The club will be observing a two-minute silence in memory of both men before its match against Tenbury tomorrow.

RUGBY clubs across the Midlands will observe a minute's silence this weekend in memory of Nigel Banwell, a founder member of Upton RFC.

Mr Banwell, aged 68, was putting out flags at the club's Old Street ground ahead of a home match against Evesham on Saturday when he was taken ill and died.

The match was postponed as a mark of respect to Mr Banwell. The teams had been due to observe a minute’s silence for Mr Tomkins ahead of the game.

Mr Banwell leaves a widow, Jane, a son Oliver, who is a coach at the club, and a daughter Ruth, who lives in Australia.

Before retirement, Mr Banwell, originally from the Bristol area, taught woodwork at Elgar High School in Worcester, the job which has brought him to the area.

As well as being a stalwart of Upton, where he was still fixture secretary, Mr Banwell was also involved with the Worcestershire and Herefordshire and the North Midlands leagues, where he was half-way through the second year of his presidency, having previously served the county as competitions chairman.

Club president Maurice Bottomley said: "‘I have known Nigel for the 20 years I have been at the club and served with him on the committee for the past few years, where he was latterly fixture secretary.

"Everyone who knew Nigel had a kind word for him and he served rugby with distinction as a player, club man, official and friend to all. As a club, Upton were fortunate to have Nigel within our ranks."

Treasurer Rob Heeley said: "Nigel was one of the three founder members of the club in 1980, when it started in the Anchor pub.

"He was still captain of the first team in 1999, which means he was actively playing into his 50s. More recently he was responsible for setting up the pitches for the club's home fixtures, which is what he was doing when he died."

North Midlands has asked its member clubs to hold a minute’s silence before their matches this weekend in memory of Mr Banwell.

“As a mark of respect for Nigel, the management committee of North Midlands RFU has asked clubs if they would arrange for a minute’s silence to be held before their matches this weekend,” said North Midlands secretary Rob Bray.