Welsh Rugby Union chairman Glanmor Griffiths yesterday led the tributes to International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh QC, who lost his battle with cancer on Thursday.

Pugh, chairman of the WRU between 1993-1997, was an integral figure in rugby's switch to professionalism. He became involved with the WRU in his role as a barrister in 1989 and was nominated as the first chairman of the union's general committee four years later.

Griffiths said: "The name of Vernon Pugh will forever be etched into the history of Welsh rugby for his many achievements in a brilliant career with the WRU."

After four years in charge of the WRU, Pugh became the IRB's first independent chairman and oversaw the expansion of the World Cup, Italy's inclusion in the Six Nations and the development of the European Cup.

The IRFU issued a statement in which it said it learned "with great regret" of Mr Pugh's death. The statement added: "Mr Pugh was instrumental in overseeing the successful transition of the amateur game to the open game.

"While always conscious of the importance of the major rugby playing nations, he was equally aware of the importance of the development of the game on a world wide basis, and was responsible for establishing regional structures throughout the world.

"This is best reflected by the increase in the numbers of members of the IRB from 67 in 1996 to the current number of 96 in 2003."