OBITUARY:IT IS with great regret that Irish rugby, and in particular Leinster Rugby, learned of the death on Wednesday of Paddy Madigan, one of the province's outstanding servants on and off the field.

A product of Belvedere College, Madigan played on the Old Belvedere team that won the Leinster Senior Cup in 1968. He played 15 times for Leinster and in several Irish trials, while his selections on the bench for Ireland ran into double figures without being capped, primarily because his career coincided with that of Ken Kennedy. He was, however, a member of the Ireland team that toured Argentina in 1970, and played for the Barbarians.

After his retirement, Madigan was president of the Leinster branch in 1976-1977, an Ireland selector from 1978 to 1981, and Irish manager on the tour to South Africa in 1981. He served on the IRFU executive committee for well over a decade and was president of the union in 1987-1988. He was also an ever-present member of the IRFU Charitable Trust since its inception in 1978, where he was a tireless and sympathetic supporter of seriously-injured rugby players and their families.

Madigan is survived by his wife, Pat, children, Patrick, David and Lucinda, and all his friends and family. His funeral takes place today at the Church of the Miraculous Medal, Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, after 11am Mass, to Shanganagh Cemetery. Family flowers only, please; donations, in lieu, to the IRFU Charitable Trust. – GT