Vale Bevan Olsen

The Canterbury Rugby League community is mourning the loss of one of its finest servants, Bevan Olsen, who passed away on Saturday aged 88.

Bevan was a tireless worker for rugby league in Canterbury with strong ties to multiple clubs, in particular Sydenham Swans, where he was a player, committee member, President, Life Member and Trustee, and Papanui Tigers.

A long-serving CRL board member and the manager of the Ray Haffenden-coached Canterbury provincial sides of the mid-1980s, Bevan held the post of CRL Chairman from 1989-92 and was made a Life Member of Canterbury Rugby League in 1998.

Canterbury Rugby League wishes to pass on its sincere condolences to the Olsen family and Bevan’s many friends.

A service to celebrate Bevan’s life will be held in our Westpark Chapel, 467 Wairakei Road, Burnside, on Friday, September 8, at 2.00pm.