Leading Australian rugby figures have paid tribute to Randwick legend Jeff Sayle, who passed away on Monday.
Sayle, a former Wallabies flanker, was an icon at the famous Galloping Greens and participated in ten Shute Shield premiership wins; four as a player and six as a coach.
Sayle coached the Galloping Greens during their heyday in the 1980s and had stars like the Ella brothers, Simon Poidevin, Ewen McKenzie, David Campese and two current World Cup coaches Michael Cheika and Eddie Jones in his teams.
Sad day for Randwick/NSW and Aussie rugby. Mr rugby Jeff sayle(up the wicks) passed away last night. Very sad to hear about Sayle. A mate,coach and always full of life. Loved been coached by sayle All about enjoyment was no 1 for Jeff. We will miss you mate. RIP
— David Campese (@Davidcampese11) September 30, 2019
Sayle, who was capped for Australia in 1967 and also played for NSW, played 379 games for Randwick between 1961 and 1980 - including 160 in first grade - and also served as the club’s treasurer, secretary, president and was club patron from 2003.
Great man. Rest in Peace my friend.
— Michael Lynagh (@LynaghMichael) October 1, 2019
Awarded an Order of Australia in 2001 for his services to rugby and the Coogee surf lifesaving club, Sayle was so famous in Sydney’s east he even had a beer “Sayle Ale” named after him.
Sayle was awarded the Nick Farr Jones Spirit of Rugby award at the John Eales medal in 2015.
Campese tweeted: "A mate,coach and always full of life. Loved been coached by sayle All about enjoyment was no 1 for Jeff. We will miss you mate. RIP.”
Current Wallabies backs coach Shaun Berne, a former Randwick player, also expressed his sadness on social media.
Very sad news- @GallopingGreens legend Jeffrey Sayle passed away. RIP mate. #wooshkaboomie
— Shaun Berne (@shaunberne) September 30, 2019
Berne said from Tokyo: "Such a great guy and so passionate about rugby and about Australian rugby. Randwick through and through but he's also a Wallaby".
"He had a massive impact," Berne said.
"He was one of my first coaches when I got down there at Randwick in the colts as a young kid coming out of school I remember being inspired by this guy.
"His way with words was incredible and the way he explained rugby was sometimes from a different planet but at the same time but so clear as to how he thought the game should be played.
"He embraced life. He suffered from a bit of parkinsons and Sayley would embrace that and say it was very windy indoors because his hand was shaky while he held his beer and he'd blame the wind. He was such a character."
