Tyler's early passing leaves huge void in world of rugby

Professional rugby union cannot afford the loss of quality administrators – heaven knows, it is a sport of lions led by donkeys – and the sudden death of David Tyler, the former Bristol captain and coach, at the distressingly early age of 56 can only have a negative effect on the game as it struggles for economic and competitive stability. Tyler died suddenly on Monday, leaving the Rugby Football Union, with whom he spent his latter years, mourning an organiser of considerable ability.

He was no mean player: an England trialist, he played at wing and centre for Bristol before seeing out his active career at full-back. He made his debut for the club in the 1966-67 season and finished the campaign as leading try-scorer. After 425 senior appearances and any number of successful outings at representative level – he was a member of the South West Counties side that beat the touring Wallabies in 1973 – he took up coaching, guiding Bristol to a famous John Player Cup triumph over Leicester at Twickenham in 1983.

Tyler then moved upstairs, managing Bristol through a tormented period at the start of the 1990s. The Memorial Grounders had been upstaged by neighbouring Bath some years before – a number of front-rank players, including Stuart Barnes and Jon Webb, had moved to the Recreation Ground as the balance of local power shifted east along the A4 – but despite considerable difficulties in the committee room, he drove the club forward towards the professional era.

Mike Rafter, a fine England flanker and one of Bristol's most successful captains, described Tyler as "a great mentor". Howard Thomas, the chief executive of Premier Rugby, said: "Dave was a very special man who had the ability to remain calm in all situations. He was justifiably proud of the part he played in the development of the professional club game. He had club rugby running through his veins."

One of Tyler's last major initiatives was the staging of the Commonwealth Games seven-a-side tournament in Manchester last year – a flawless, seamless competition, won in memorable style by New Zealand. "He was as comfortable with the Commonwealth Games job as he was advising on player registration issues," said Terry Burwell, the RFU's operations director. "He exuded rugby knowledge at all levels."

The finals of this season's Parker Pen Challenge Cup and Shield competitions will be staged as a double-header at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on 25 May. The Madejski is no stranger to top-level European rugby – Northampton and Llanelli fought out a wonderful Heineken Cup semi-final there in 2000 – and the 22,000 capacity is just about right for the event. Three English teams – Bath, Saracens and Wasps – are in the last four of the Challenge Cup, along with Pontypridd. Two French teams, Castres and Pau, are in the semi-finals of the junior Shield competition, along with Caerphilly and Petrarca Padova, Italy's dark horses.

Chris Murphy, the former England A lock, will leave Leeds for Pau at the end of the season. Unlike Premiership clubs, leading French teams do not labour under the restrictions of a salary cap. "We are disappointed to lose Chris, but the offer from Pau was too good for him to turn down," said Phil Davies, the director of rugby at Headingley.