A rugby referee collapsed and died on the pitch during a match in front of horrified players and spectators. Tony McDonald slumped to the ground during Bloxwich Rugby Club's home match with Droitwich Thirds. Onlookers saw Mr McDonald pull himself back up on to allfours but as players ran to his aid he collapsed again. Bloxwich captain Kevin Pitt, a firefighter, used his medical training to try to resuscitate him in the drama on Saturday. Tributes yesterday poured in to the popular 51-year-old father and husband from friends, family and the rugby community. Mike Spencer of the North Midlands Rugby Referees' Society, described Mr McDonald, of West Avenue, Castle Referee dies during rugby game Bromwich as an "amiable bear of a man". He said: "He was a developing referee and dedicated sportsman who had been with us for three and a half years. He was always firm but fair on the pitch and very well liked by all who came into contact with him." Bloxwich Rugby Club said its badge would now carry a black border in memory of Mr McDonald. Tony met his wife Mary 15 years ago when he was deputy head of St John The Baptist Roman Catholic Primary School in Chelmsley Wood where she was a teacher. He had a son Paul, aged 30, from his first marriage, Mary had two daughters Anna, aged 26, and Laura, aged 24. The couple also had two daughters together, 14-year-old Emily and Rosemary, aged 12. Anna said his death had devastated the whole family although they were comforted by the fact he had died doing what he loved most. She said: "Tony was so well known around Castle Bromwich and within the rugby community. "He was a member and former player of Old Saltleians RFC at Water Orton, Birmingham, and organised a summer ball and a New Year's Eve party every year. He was the sort of person who never thought of himself but always of others. " Tony had taught throughout Warwickshire and over the last 12 months had been working as a schools' inspector for Peterborough Education Authority. | 
