East London RFC President Nick Bracken OBE DL has paid tribute on behalf of the club to Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch, who died on Thursday aged 96.

Nick, who is also President of Essex County Rugby Football Union, said: "East London Rugby Football Club is shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth. On behalf of the club I offer sympathy to the Royal Family who have lost a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

“The Queen was one of the greatest people of our age. As a former Patron of the Rugby Football Union, she was loved by players, supporters and volunteers. We must honour her life of service by acting with the dignity, respect, trust and togetherness she expected from all of us on and off the pitch.

“We have been privileged to have had her as our Queen and Sovereign for so long, but now we welcome her son Charles as our King, and Camilla, the Queen Consort. We must support them through their understandable grief at this time. In matches over the weekend East London teams will wear black armbands and there will be a minute’s silence to express our condolences and celebrate a life well lived.”