Tributes have been paid to the University of Nottingham's director of physical recreation and sport, Vaughan Williams, who has passed away at the age of 63 years old following a short illness.

Williams led the department of physical recreation and sport for more than 30 years, helping to establish the University of Nottingham as one of the top 10 per cent British institutions for sporting team performance. In addition to his role at the university, Williams also held the position as vice-president of the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) and manager of the English Universities Rugby Union Team, as well as being the students' representative on the Rugby Football Union (RFU) council.

Professor David Greenaway, the University of Nottingham's vice-chancellor, said: "Vaughan will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues and by the countless number of student sportsmen and women who have benefitted from his coaching and advice. He exemplified what was best in university sport and life." RFU president Brian Williams added: "Vaughan epitomised all that is best in rugby union, working tirelessly so that others might play and he ensured that many young people who might have been lost to rugby were able to enjoy the game."