FORMER Fartown player Tom Naidole has died of pneumonia at the age of 74.

The Fijian arrived in Huddersfield in 1964 to sign for the town's rugby league club - along with fellow countrymen Joe Saukuru and John Ravitale - and lived here ever since.

Before moving to England he played rugby union and remains Fiji's most capped international rugby union player, having played 25 times for his country.

He also played for his country at cricket and was a former Fijian sprint champion.

The centre or winger played for Fartown between 1964 and 1968 and both his sons - Joe and Tom - followed in his footsteps and played for Huddersfield.

In October 1991, Mr Naidole was chosen to lead Fiji out in the opening ceremony of the Rugby Union World Cup at Twickenham before the game between England and New Zealand.

He was also instrumental in establishing rugby league in Fiji and in 1990 wrote to the country's prime minister, Sir Ratu Kamisese Mara, to get the 13-a-side code.

Mr Naidole was a personal friend of Sir Ratu, who was his brigadier when they served in the Fijian army in Malaya from 1951-55.

Mr Naidole leaves a wife, Mokui, and children Joe, Tom, Lita, Dani and Lani.

His funeral is at Linthwaite Parish Church on Friday at 1pm.