About

I have been involved in Rugby all my life. My interest began when, as a small child, I went with my father to watch Bradford Northern in the 1950s.

My Rugby Union playing career began at 17 when I joined Leeds Chirons. I also played for Doncaster College of Education, Barnsley and Dinnington.

I began playing Amateur Rugby League for General Accident ARLFC in 1968 and then played for Bentley ARLFC and Rotherham Rangers.

Stuart Sheard
Rotherham Rangers 1979

My involvement in Rugby League administration began in 1976 and over the years I have been an amateur club secretary, district and regional league secretary, a British Amateur Rugby League Association Board of Management member, International Selector and Vice Chairman of the British Amateur Rugby League Association.

My lifetime association with rugby took another turn in the 1984/85 season when I became involved with professional Rugby League as a Director of Sheffield Eagles. Taking a career change from teaching, latterly as a Primary School Head teacher in South Yorkshire, I began working full-time in Rugby League in 2000 when I joined Huddersfield Giants. I have also worked for Crusaders RL and Featherstone Rovers. Since leaving my post as Chief Executive at Featherstone, in January 2011, I returned to the Community game. I was invited to chair the newly formed Yorkshire Men's League in 2011 and remained as chair until 2019. In 2016 I was elected to the Rugby League Community Board as the representative of Tiers Five and Six of the Community game. Following my resignation from the Community Board in 2019 I was added to the Rugby League Roll of Honour. Since 2019 I have concentrated on writing about grassroots rugby.