FORMER Newport RFC coach Ian McIntosh has died at the age of 84, the day after the man who brought him to Rodney Parade Tony Brown.

The ex-South Africa boss took over from Alan Lewis on a one-year contract in 2001 with the aim of retaining the Welsh Cup and mounting a title challenge.

Newport made a slow start to the campaign but went on to beat Jonny Wilkinson’s Newcastle and Toulouse in the Heineken Cup before losing a key clash with Leinster after floodlight failure.

The Black and Ambers’ defence of the Welsh Cup was also ended controversially in Cardiff while they then fell short in the Welsh-Scottish League, edged out by Llanelli, in a season of highs but also frustration.

"Condolences to family and friends, great coach and a wonderful person off the field. RIP Mac," Tweeted Newport great Jason Forster

McIntosh was head coach for the Springboks in 1993 and 1994, taking charge of them for 12 Tests.

The Zimbabwean earned the top job in South African thanks to his exploits with Natal, winning four Currie Cups.

“‘Mac’ left an indelible mark on the global rugby landscape, but even more so in South Africa and with his beloved Sharks,” said Mark Alexander, president of South African Rugby.

“He was an intensely passionate rugby man through and through, someone who never stopped learning, coaching, educating and giving back.

“He will be remembered as Springbok and Sharks coach, who plotted the unthinkable in 1990 when the ‘Banana Boys’ beat the mighty Bulls in the Currie Cup final in Pretoria, but later in his life, along with SARLA, ‘Mac’ did magnificent work in uplifting the less fortunate, using rugby as a tool to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of children through the years.

“’Mac’ never stopped working and believed in giving back to the game that he loved so much.

"As South African rugby, we owe him so much gratitude for what he’s done, and we honour him for the role he played in the game, both here and internationally.

“We are thinking of Rhona, his wife of almost 60 years, and their three sons, Ross, Craig and Evan, as well as the rest of the McIntosh family, friends and other loved ones in this very difficult time.

"May you find solace in the memories of a man who will forever be remembered as a pioneer in rugby and whose influence stretched over generations."

The death of former Newport benefactor Brown, whose exploits led to him being inducted into the hall of fame in 2012, was announced on Tuesday.