Rugby legend Rory Underwood says former Tigers team secretary Tudor Thomas, who died last week at the age of 89, was ‘like a father figure’ in his time at Welford Road.

Thomas gave half a century of support to the club after moving to Leicester in the 1960s from his native Wales. He spent two decades as team secretary and also served as president and honorary secretary before receiving life member status in 2007.

Underwood, who played 236 times for Tigers and remains England’s record tryscorer, said: “I came to Tigers in 1983 after joining the RAF. My father had died in 1981 and I always regarded Tudor as a bit of a father figure.

“He was always very helpful and was an outstanding first-team secretary.

“As team secretary, he was responsible for sending out the little green card to tell you if you’d been selected for the first team and I still remember that when I got my first England cap, his comment to me was ‘I take it you’re not playing for Leicester on Saturday?’ which was typical of his humour.

“He didn’t play for the club, but you wouldn’t know it, because he was Tigers through and through. He did absolutely everything to support the rugby side.”

Many supporters also remember Thomas as the matchday announcer at Welford Road, which he did as part of his duties as honorary secretary.

“His voice was synonymous with the Welford Road crowd,” added Underwood who is now a member of the board at Tigers.