Eric Clay

Eric Clay (19 May 1922 – 3 October 2007) was a British rugby league referee popularly known as "Sergeant Major" for his style during games.

Early life, private life Born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, Clay was married with two daughters. It is considered was one of the most brutal Tests ever played, with two Australians and one British player, Cliff Watson, being sent off.

Australia's captain in that Ashes series, St George hooker Ian Walsh, later commented that Clay was brought in by the Rugby Football League to prevent the Lions losing a home series 3–0. Walsh also claimed that Australia had done the same thing the year before with Sydney referee Darcy Lawler making some controversial decisions (including allegedly telling Ken Irvine to re-set a kick at goal so he would not miss. Lawler denied doing so and Irvine never revealed if he had) in the third test of the 1962 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. Lawler had also earlier awarded Irvine a try when he appeared to have knocked on, and his goal, thanks to the advice from Lawler, saw Australia win the test 18–17 and prevent Great Britain from winning the series 3–0.

Retirement from Rugby League After his retirement from refereeing, Clay concentrated on his other job as company secretary of an engineering firm in Leeds. Despite his name remaining one of the best-known in the game, he was rarely seen at rugby league events. There was one exception to that – when Alex Murphy was appointed OBE in 1999, he insisted on the man who sent him off three times accompanying him to Buckingham Palace as one of his guests.

Dave Hadfield wrote in The Independent "Even though he had been retired from refereeing for 35 years by the time of his death, "Sergeant Major" Eric Clay remained the most memorable and instantly recognisable figure ever to officiate at rugby league matches in Britain".