Wallabies eager to pay tribute to Randwick rugby legend Jeff Sayle

The Wallabies are desperate to honour a rugby legend when they turn out against Uruguay, with coach Michael Cheika admitting he’s been hit hard by the death of his former coach and friend.

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THE Wallabies are considering making a request to World Rugby to wear black armbands in their next World Cup match against Uruguay in tribute to Randwick legend Jeff Sayle.

Sayle, who was capped once for Australia in 1967, passed away on Monday, aged 77.

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Jeff Sayle (L) was a great of the Randwick rugby club.

Tributes have been flooding in from all over the rugby world, including Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and assistant Shaune Berne.

“The news this morning hit me like brick,” Cheika wrote in a letter published on rugby.com.au.

“You did more for me that I can put into words but I’m going to give it a try.

“You taught me, first and foremost, to love the game. You were always so positive about the game — you lived it, you bled it and you did a bloody good job.”

Australia's head coach Michael Cheika has been hit hard by the death of his mate Jeff Sayle. Picture: AFP

Added Berne: "Such a great guy and so passionate about rugby and about Australian rugby. Randwick through and through but he's also a Wallaby.

“He had a massive impact. He was one of my first coaches when I got down there at Randwick in the colts as a young kid coming out of school I remember being inspired by this guy.

“His way with words was incredible and the way he explained rugby was sometimes from a different planet but at the same time but so clear as to how he thought the game should be played.

“He embraced life. He suffered from a bit of parkinsons and Sayley would embrace that and say it was very windy indoors because his hand was shaky while he held his beer and he'd blame the wind. He was such a character.”

Sayle was a player, coach, mentor and friend at Randwick. Picture: Erin Byrne

The Wallabies are mulling over whether to ask tournament officials if they can wear black armbands in their match.

Teams rarely do at the World Cup although France will don black armbands and observe a minute’s silence at their next match against the United States to mourn the death last week of former President Jacques Chirac.

An Order of Australia recipient for his services to rugby and the community, Sayle also represented NSW and played 379 games for Randwick between 1961 and 1980.

Originally published as Wallabies eager to pay tribute to Randwick rugby legend Jeff Sayle