Yorkshire RFU

We'd like to thank Prof Ralph C Kester BEM MD CHM FRSC(Eng) for his many years of service to the Yorkshire RFU.

Prof Kester is a world renowned vascular surgeon and alongside this, his support has been invaluable to rugby in our region.

He's an overview of his life in rugby and contribution to rugby in Yorkshire (borrowed from the www.colouredsa.co.za website)

When he arrived in England, one of the first things he did was join Guy’s Hospital RFC, the oldest rugby club in the world. Through the years, he joined different clubs, depending on where his day job took him. His main position was the no.7 flanker, but he also played hooker and no.8.

The list of English clubs and regions that he represented include Cambridge RUFC, Clifton RUFC, Winchester RUFC, Panmure RFC, Angus District XV , Perthshire Select XV, Panmure RFC, Roundhay RUFC, Leeds Medical and Dental RUFC, Yorkshire Colts. During his brief stay in the US, he both played for and coached Old Mission Beach Athletic Club’s two rugby teams. His teammates included legendary English players such as the former president of England’s Rugby Federation Union, Dickie Jeeps and Andy Hancock whose international try in 1965 is rated as one the best.

He also coached Panmure RFC and refereed several games as a member of Scottish Midlands Referee Society and Leeds Central Districts Referee Society.

Ralph was also asked to start volunteering as a rugby medical specialist so, from 1976, he was the lead Honorary Surgeon to the largest rugby constituent body in the world, Yorkshire Rugby Football Union. He was also the team doctor to all 10 of its County teams. He was the team doctor for the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union, the Yorkshire County Team, Yorkshire Women’s Rugby and the North of England Division Colts.

In addition, he was the Medical Coordinator of Training and Match Attendance for the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union and the Team Doctor for the North of England.

As the Tour Doctor for the Yorkshire Terriers and Yorkshire Colts, he travelled with them to destinations such as Canada, Australia, France, Portugal, New Zealand, Fiji, US, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Namibia and Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong. In 2011, he was the tour doctor for the Terrier’s match in South Africa. One of the highlights of his rugby career was when was asked to organize the medical set-up for the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool games taking place in Yorkshire, England.

Being deeply involved with the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union, he had the positions of its Junior Vice-President, Senior Vice-President and President. He also sat on its Nominations Panel. In recognition of his longstanding service to Yorkshire rugby, he was awarded the President’s Award for being one of the union’s top volunteers.

He's also been kind enough to document and share some of memories and his views on the best teams and best players he has seen. You can read his thoughts here. We do hope you'll enjoy them.

Thank you again Ralph, we're honoured to know you!