TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular former West Cumbrian rugby player who was well respected across the county.

Mike Rafferty, a former rugby union player with Workington Zebras and coach at the Keswick club, has died.

A popular figure on the rugby circuit, Mike started with the Zebras in the 1950s, as a respected back row forward.

Those were the days of social rugby and when Workington didn’t have a game he and a pal Josh Humes would go and offer their services to the likes of Steels and Netherhall.

In a statement on social media, Workington Zebras RFC said: "It is with great sadness that we inform you that former Workington RFC Head Coach and player Mike Rafferty has passed away following a short illness. Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this time."

Born in Workington, he worked briefly down the mines, before having a spell selling insurance around the area.

He decided to go into teaching and spent time training at the Charlotte Mason College in Ambleside.

The bulk of his teaching career was at Beacon Hill, Aspatria but he also taught in schools in the Workington area.

If rugby was his first love outside family, his second was walking and he was regularly on the Lake District fells and even spent time walking in the Andes.

Mike was invited to write a regular column on fell walking for the Times & Star and it proved very popular.

He also was involved with “the Browton gang” a group from Broughton who went on fund-raising rides. It was there a friendship with ex-Workington and St. Helens star Peter Gorley was cemented and the two went on regular, stiff fell walks.

Mike was involved with the Cumbria Veterans side, the Rams and 20 years ago was among the veterans who toured Spain and played a match against Gibraltar.

After coaching Keswick he kept in touch with the club, players and officials and regularly went with them on tours, as well as trips to the Rugby League Cup final.

In a statement on social media, Keswick RFC said: "We received the sad news that our former coach and great friend of Keswick Rugby Club, Mike Rafferty, passed away.

"Mike was head coach in the late 90’s and was widely respected. After finishing coaching the club he remained in touch and was part of our Veterans rugby tour to Spain in 2003. For those who knew him, he will be missed. RIP Mike."

In later years he joined the Royal George quiz team in the West Cumbria Quiz League where he was captain and his late wife Jean read the questions.

For many years Jean had been a member of the Ladies Committee with the Zebras.

The couple had four daughters Sonya, who lives in London; Kerry who is in the USA; Nicola who is in Austria and Clare who lives in Workington.