Trevor Bradley’s life may have been short but his impact on Maidstone Rugby Club will not be forgotten.

The 42-year-old, who died suddenly, was a popular and well loved member, so much so its Barbarians team plans to retire his number one shirt.

His wife Sarah paid a moving tribute to the Ulsterman, who collapsed and died at home.

She met him while he was studying civil engineering at the University of Glasgow in 1991, and revealed how they had planned to start a new life in the Hastings area of Sussex.

Raised in Dungannon, he never lost his broad Northern Irish accent which helped bring him and his wife of 17 years together.

Mrs Bradley, of Hill Brow, Bearsted, said: “His accent was so strong. I started to understand him a little better than other people and ended up translating.

“I pitied the rugby boys, though, because if he would shout during the game he was hard to understand and the mouth guard couldn’t have made things easier.

“When I was first getting to know him I was struck by how considerate he was. I remember him saying he had to go and get his aunt a birthday card.

“That impressed me because my mother would be lucky to get a birthday card from my brother.

“I’m going to miss him a lot and the rugby club, which is a really strong family, has helped me a lot.”

A post mortem has not found the cause of Mr Bradley’s death.

David Eiffert, vice president and a close friend for 15 years, said: “Trevor had a big personality, gaining enormous respect over time.

“It goes without saying that he will leave a significant void and will be hugely missed.”

“It goes without saying that he will leave a significant void and will be hugely missed" - David Eiffert

Mr Bradley, a chartered structural engineer, used to captain Maidstone’s fifth team, known as Barbarians, and went to same school as former Ireland rugby captain Paddy Johns.

He helped attract players from a wealth of nationalities and was involved in organising tours.

In his professional life he had recently been promoted to become technical director for MLM Structural Engineering, which has an office based in Ashford.

A funeral will take place at Vinters Park Crematorium at 11.45am next Thursday.

It will be followed by a wake at Maidstone Rugby Club, in Willow Way and a memorial service for friends in Ireland is being planned.