Frank Gower, known as a tenacious rugby competitor, captained Vancouver Island Crimson Tide against the New Zealand All Blacks in 1954 and captained B.C. against the famed touring British Barbarians in 1957.

Gower died last month at the age of 92.

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“My dad had a reputation as one of the hardest tacklers on the pitch but he was such an easy-going person off the field,” said son Michael Gower.

“His former teammates would tell me in later years that you always knew he had your back.”

Primarily a fullback, the versatile Gower could be plugged into any position on the backfield.

Gower, who also played against the Australia Wallabies, was an active player with James Bay Athletic Association for more than 50 years. He was among the founders of the Vancouver Island Ebb Tide old-timers side and part of its inaugural tour of Japan in 1972 that included former B.C. premier Dave Barrett.

Gower played his last rugby game just a few days shy of his 70th birthday.

“My dad loved sports and worked on it even in his teaching career,” said Michael Gower.

“He organized the students and practically built the playing fields and track at Belmont High School in the 1950s. He later built up junior high school rugby on the Lower Island, a project he took on with Bob McKee, to help funnel players to the high schools.”

The ability of sport to help build and lift communities was a lifelong belief for Gower.

“He went to Kenya to volunteer teaching group sports in Somali refugee camps,” said Michael Gower.

At the elite level, 17 of Gower’s former players went on to play for Canada. He was instrumental in teaching former rugby player Dave Cutler, who went on to become an all-time Canadian Football League great, how to kick.

Up to his final years, Gower could be found on the sidelines cheering local athletes from school-age and club to Olympians and World Cup performers.

Gower’s Island teaching career, from the early 1950s to 1985, took him to Belmont, Colquitz Junior High, Vic High and Oak Bay High. His subject areas included physical education, math and science.

“My dad taught physical education before having to do only indoor teaching roles due to a tumour on his larynx,” said Michael Gower.

“Even after he stopped teaching, he continued to coach basketball, soccer, track and field and rugby, including two B.C. championships for Oak Bay in 1973 and 1975.”

Frank Gower also refereed rugby for many years and was chairman of the Lower Island referees’ association.

Gower is survived by four generations of family.

A service is being held today at 1:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com