Waikato sporting identity Doug Clarke dies

Waikato sporting identity Doug Clarke has died, aged 72.

The second eldest of five famous brothers, Douglas Stewart Clarke died on Monday at his home in Morrinsville after a short illness.

Clarke had always been in the sporting limelight on the playing field or as an administrator. He played 43 rugby games for Waikato from 1953-62 and six matches for Northern Districts in cricket between 1957-61.

Unlike his brothers, Don and Ian, Doug never played for the All Blacks although, according to former teammate Colin Meads, it was not because of lack of ability.

"He was one of the unlucky ones who never got the big break at the top level but having two brothers there already made it awkward," Meads said today. "He was a great player."

Clarke's proudest moment as a rugby player came when all five of the brothers turned out in August 1961 for Waikato to beat Thames Valley at Te Aroha 11-8.

"That was a very special day for the whole family, especially our parents who were strong supporters of the boys playing rugby," Clarke told the Waikato Times in 1999.

When he retired in 1968 from rugby, Clarke took up the whistle for the next 15 years, rising to provincial level and eventually becoming president of the Waikato Rugby Referees Association committee.

After becoming a Morrinsville sub-union delegate Clarke quickly rose in the ranks of the Waikato Rugby Union, becoming president in 1995. After his time as union president, Clarke became the chairman of a sub-committee that was in charge of planning changes for Rugby Park.

Former mayor David Braithwaite said Clarke was instrumental in revamping the ground, heading the Waikato Regional Stadium Trust through the initial stages.

"He was the catalyst in the 1990s in beginning the process which culminated with Waikato Stadium," he said.

"Doug Clarke was a good man and I'll remember him for his decency, his courtesy and his integrity," Braithwaite said.

Clarke is survived by his wife, Irene, and children and their spouses, Barry and Sandy, Julie and Stan, Wendy and Neil, Debbie and Karen and grandchildren, Shane, Ayla, Tessa, Sam, Cody, Lucy and Joseph.

A service will be held tomorrow at 11am at the Woodlands Historic Homestead in Gordonton.

- NZPA