Cheltenham North are in mourning after the death of one of the rugby club’s “big figures”.

John Joines, a prop and former club captain, died on Monday at the age of 72.

And club chairman and president Nick Jones led the tributes to a man who epitomised so much of what the club have been about over so many years.

“He was an interesting character,” said Jones. “He was one of the old school who played it hard on the pitch. He was great mates with Cliff Brookes and they were cut from the same cloth.

“They expected no quarters to be given and they never asked for any, that’s how they played the game.”

Jones played a few games alongside Joines when he was breaking into the 1st XV and Joines, who he described as a “rugged prop”, was coming towards the end of his career.

“He was always happy to give advice and encouragement,” recalled Jones. “He understood that you needed time to get used to the rigours of the 1st team.

“He made you feel welcome and he’d help you out when things got sticky on the pitch. He held old-fashioned values of everyone sticking together.”

But while Joines clearly had an edge on the field, Jones says he was a very different personality off the pitch.

“He was a lovely guy off the field,” he said. “He’d do anything for you and he had a lively sense of humour.”

Although he has not been seen at the club so much in recent times, Joines is clearly going to be missed at Stoke Road.

“He was a big figure, a big character,” said Jones, “he will be sadly missed. As time goes on there seems to be fewer and fewer of those types of characters in sports clubs, they are irreplaceable.”

Joines’ two sons – Gary and Mark – both played for the North and Mark’s son Harvey is currently impressing in the club’s Colts set-up.

North stalwart Malcolm Kedward played for many years alongside Joines senior. “John played loosehead and I was tighthead,” he said. “We’re the same age and were good pals, it’s very sad. He was a good mate.”