A legend like Serevi - Hong Kong pays tribute to Grand Dame of Sevens Beth Coalter
Rugby community celebrates the life of a 'special lady' who helped turn the Sevens into a phenomenon
Beth Coalter, the “Grand Dame of the Hong Kong Sevens”, was on Monday hailed as one of the legends of the city’s most famous sporting event at a remembrance to coincide with her funeral service in Belfast.
I think it was Beth’s special personality that attracted a group of similar-minded good people to her ‘sevens team’ and in turn make the Hong Kong Sevens the great event that it is
Coalter, 59, died on October 21 in Belfast after suffering a brain haemorrhage. It was then discovered she had leukaemia, unbeknown to her or her family.
“Much-loved”, “a beacon of warmth and positivity”, “tireless and passionate”, “dedicated and professional”, a “consummate quiet achiever” and a “very special lady” were some of the glowing tributes paid to Coalter, one of the most admired and influential women in world rugby.
But a video created in 2005 when Coalter left Hong Kong to join the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby) and later become rugby sevens operations manager paid her the greatest compliment.
It came from Hong Kong Sevens great Eric Rush, who said: “There are many legends of the Hong Kong Sevens – Waisale Serevi, David Campese, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen … but there’s one more name that deserves to be on that list, Beth Coalter.”
In the following 10 years, Coalter went on to spread the sevens game around the world and help it become an Olympic sport. It will make its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She rose from secretary to become the Hong Kong Sevens tournament manager and played an instrumental role in making the Sevens a phenomenon.
More than 80 friends and former colleagues gathered at Hong Kong Football Club on Monday night to pay their respects and celebrate her life.
Former Hong Kong Rugby Union chairman Peter Duncan interviewed her for her first job and said he quickly warmed to Coalter’s endearing qualities and her ability to handle all the issues thrown up by the Sevens.
“In overcoming these challenges the union became stronger and Beth became stronger as well,” Duncan said.
“She developed into the consummate quiet achiever. Along the way Beth made friends all over the world. More importantly perhaps, and despite her exhausting travel schedule, she was utterly devoted to her family, Bill the [referee] whistler, and her two daughters Colleen and Ffiona.”
“I think it was Beth’s special personality that attracted a group of similar-minded good people to her ‘sevens team’ and in turn make the Hong Kong Sevens the great event that it is.
Beth would be simply astounded by the effect she had on people and it has been a huge source of comfort for us at this time to receive such a wealth of happy memories and love from all around the world. Beth would be so pleased
“It was the IRB’s good fortune that Bill and Beth moved back to Ireland, where she played a major role in getting the World Sevens Series really on the front foot and then on to being part of the vanguard of the movement that got rugby sevens into the Olympics.
“It will be a very poignant time at next year’s Hong Kong Sevens, when I’m sure many of us will remember and feel Beth’s presence in everything around us. They will be good memories of a very special lady,” Payne said.
At the funeral service in Belfast, the family relayed a message to the gathering in Hong Kong: “During the last few days we have been inundated by such messages of love and respect for this incredible woman we were lucky to have as a mother and a wife.
“Beth would be simply astounded by the effect she had on people and it has been a huge source of comfort for us at this time to receive such a wealth of happy memories and love from all around the world. Beth would be so pleased.”
Rush attended the service in Belfast along with World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset, HKRU chairman Pieter Schats, Hong Kong Sevens tournament liaison manager Lorna Meads and representatives from many countries who have participated on the World Sevens circuit.
World Rugby last week hailed Coalter’s achievements and passion, calling her “a beacon of warmth and positivity” and a “driving force behind rugby seven successful campaigns for Olympic conclusion and the ongoing success of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series”.
The match officials at the Rugby World Cup semi-finals at Twickenham last weekend wore black as a mark of respect from the global rugby family.
“Her contribution to the success of both the Hong Kong Sevens and Hong Kong rugby cannot be underestimated, and her legacy can be seen in the vibrancy of our community and the global growth of the sevens game she loved so dearly.
“The HKRU extends its thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences to Beth’s family during this difficult period.”
Tributes poured in last week on social media.
Gary Cross, the former Hong Kong player who worked with Coalter under ex-national coach George Simpkin, said: “Beth. I remember back in the day when we (the HKRFU with George, KK [Chiu] and just a few staff) worked out of a little office in North Point. The HK7s was run from that little office and you were the master of that ship. It would never have become what it is today without you. I am going to bloody miss you x. I shed a tear in your passing. You will be missed by many.”
