| Stuart Daily has been a fixture with the Wisconsin Rugby Club, and
the sport all over the state since coming to Madison in the
late 1970s. As a player, coach, referee, Select Side organizer,
executive committee member, Stuart was involved in the sport
at all levels. Though his work often had him flying around the
nation and sometimes the globe, Stuart often found creative
ways to fit in matches as either a player or referee by ensuring
that his meetings just happened to be occurring within reach
of a nearby rugby pitch.
Stuart excelled on the pitch, particularly for his fitness,
kicking for touch or for posts, and in his droll manner of
"helping" referees with their interpretation of
the match in progress. "Don't worry about that offsides,
boys. The ref will catch it," he would say, and invariably,
the ref would. He was also well regarded off the pitch not
only for his tireless efforts on behalf of the sport and his
club, but also for his sardonic sense of humor and friendliness
toward novice players.
When the times were tough for the club, Stuart was there.
When the club needed funds to help defray the costs of traveling
to the Midwest Cup in the late 1980's, Stuart dashed off letters
to Old Boys. When new players came to town, Stuart was one
of the first to make them feel at home, sometimes even putting
them up at his own house. When there was a ref required or
a slot available for a flyhalf, Stuart was there.
In spirit, Stuart will always be with us, with the club and
the sport he loved.
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