The death has occurred suddenly of Sir Ewart Bell, a former Ireland rugby international and a man who made an outstanding contribution to the game at administrative level both nationally and internationally. He was 76.

He was born in November 1924 and educated at Methodist College, Belfast, and Oxford University. He played for Oxford University and, during a brief period as a teacher in Cheltenham College, for the Cheltenham club before returning to Northern Ireland to take up an appointment in the civil service.

He joined Collegians and rendered the club outstanding service as a player and administrator. He was a member of the Collegians side that won the Ulster Senior Cup and League double in 1950'51, and was a former captain and president of the club.

More recently he played a major role in the amalgamation of the Collegians and NIFC clubs to form Belfast Harlequins.

After impressive displays for Ulster he made his international debut in the second row against France at Ravenhill in January 1953 in a match won by Ireland 16-3. He played in all four Championship matches that season when, in addition to beating France, Ireland also beat Scotland, 26-8, drew with England and lost to Wales 5-3. He also played for The Barbarians.

While his playing career was distinguished, his contributions at administrative levels for club, province, country and the International Board were outstanding. He was an Ireland selector for four years, 1966-'67 and 1969-'70.

During that period he was also chosen as chairman of that committee and also chaired the Ulster selection committee.

He was elected president of the Ulster Branch in 1974-'75 and was a member of the IRFU from 1975 until 1993 when he was elected chairman of Rugby World Cup (RWC). He presided over RWC for the World Cup in South Africa in 1995.

He was president of the IRFU in 1986-'87 and was made a trustee in 1996.

He represented Ireland on the International Rugby Board from 1987 until 1993. His magnificent service to the game was given due recognition when he was elected to the Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame in 1995.

Professionally, his outstanding qualities were recognised when he was made head of the Northern Ireland civil service. He also served on the senate of Queen's University and as honorary treasurer of the university and as a governor of Methodist College and a director of Ulster Bank.

While rugby was the sporting love of his long and fruitful life, his sporting interests also embraced golf and soccer. He was a long-standing member of Knock golf club and an enthusiastic supporter of Arsenal.

His death occurred while he was returning to his home in Belfast with his wife Kathleen after spending Christmas with his daughters in Scotland.

While for a period last year, he had been seriously ill, and was sustained and encouraged by the love and devotion of Kathleen, a medical doctor, and his daughters.

That illness, to his great regret, curtailed his involvement in rugby, but more recently he had appeared to make a good recovery and last month attended the Hall of Fame inductions of Tony O'Reilly and Tom Kiernan.

He was a man of unfailing courtesy and total integrity, and the news of his death has been received with profound regret throughout the game. There was no man more respected in the game and his is an honoured place in the annals of rugby nationally and internationally.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen, his daughters Dorothy and Hazel, his grandchildren, a brother and a sister, to whom sincere sympathy is offered.