'He'll be remembered as one of the all-time greats'

Matt Salter, who captained Bristol Bears from relegation up to third in the league, died in March at the age of 49 [David Rogers] A rugby captain who died last month has been remembered as "one of the all time greats" at a memorial service. Matt Salter captained Bristol Bears from 2004 to 2008, making 161 appearances for the club. He died at the age of 49 on 7 March.

Hundreds of people attended a public service at Bristol Cathedral to honour the sportsman earlier. "He was a very tough player," said Bears historian Mark Hoskins. "One of those people who never took a backwards step.

" "I can remember him going off with his head covered in blood and returning minutes later to replace another player - he was a really special leader. " More from Bristol Council denied injunction to prohibit van dwellers Jury sees film of confrontations during Elbit raid 'I met a boy who wears a stab vest to the barbers' During his career, Salter was named in Guinness Premiership Dream Team in 2006. He went on to take a role at Clifton RFC and became director of rugby at Clifton College.

Hoskins said: "He would have touched hundreds of lives during his teaching, he influenced so many young people. " Matt Salter in the Guiness Premiership match at Memorial Stadium in 2007 [Matt Cardy] Richard Hill, former director of Bristol Rugby said: "He really was a lovely man, he wasn't interested in material things he was interested in people and helping them, so many admired him. " Alex Brown is the CEO of Gloucester Rugby and a former Bristol and England player.