Former Gloucester player and coach John Brain has passed away at the age of 51.

Brain, who made almost 300 appearances for the Aviva Premiership side during his playing career, died on Sunday morning.

"John was a true Gloucester Rugby stalwart, representing his home town club with distinction for the vast majority of his rugby playing career," BBC Sport quotes a Gloucester spokesman as saying.

Brain began a career in coaching with his former club as an assistant before making the switch to Worcester, where he enjoyed a successful tenure.

The ex-professional then returned to Gloucester in 2010 as a scout and was then appointed as rugby operations manager last season.

Written by
Danielle Joynson