The Star R.F.C was a powerful force in West Coast Rugby circles from their formation in 1898, until their merger with fellow Greymouth Club, the United R.F.C in 1969, and if Star were still in existence, they'd be celebrating their 125th Jubilee this year.

The club won numerous senior titles, and produced many West Coast representative players and administrators of note, but one of their more illustrious members was Thomas Edward McIntosh.

McIntosh was born into a coal mining family on August 17th, 1887 in Brunner, and he was a member of Star senior team that was a dominant force in club rugby throughout his career early last century, and a fine representative player for West Coast from 1907-1922, earning 35 caps. This figure that would have been significantly higher if it wasn't for representative games not being played between 1916-1918, during World War One. 

McIntosh also had further representative honours, playing for the South Island Country team four times in 1912, scoring two tries, while also making the South Island team in 1913, which resulted in a 25-0 win over the North Island team at Lancaster Park in Christchurch. In 1921, McIntosh captained the West Coast-Buller combined team against the touring Springboks, at Victoria Park in Greymouth, which resulted in a 33-3 win to the visitors.

In the Greymouth Evening Star, dated November 15th, 1920, a special mention was made of a presentation at the Star R.F.C end of year banquet to McIntosh, the then West Coast captain, by Mr D. McKay, the W.C.R.U honourary treasurer. The presentation, McKay made on behalf of the West Coast Rugby Union, took the form of a handsome gold medal bearing the inscription, “From W.C.R.U. to T. McIntosh, 13 years a rep. footballer.”

The article went on to say "Mcintosh's record is something to be proud of. It is certainly unique in the history of football on the West Coast, and it is no exaggeration to state that there is not a representative forward playing in New Zealand this year who has kept his form over such a long period of time in the same manner as the Coast forward. The brilliant Star player has always been a most loyal supporter of the Union, always to be depended upon and invariably fit, and ready to put forward his best for his side. He is not endowed with the weight which is usually found in a representative forward, but what he lacked in weight he has more than made up in dash and cleverness".

McIntosh would finish his representative career in 1922, playing a total of 41 first class games either as an inside back or a forward, and he'd score 12 tries during this time.

Upon playing his last representative match for West Coast, McIntosh then traded the ball for a whistle, seamlessly embarking on a highly successful refereeing career, refereeing his first West Coast match just one year later, a fixture against Canterbury B in Greymouth. McIntosh would go on to referee a total of 14 first-class games, with the last of those matches being a West Coast v Buller match in 1933 at Rugby Park in Greymouth.

His love and enthusiasm for administration also flowed into other areas of the game, and in 1923, the year he refereed his first representative match, he'd become a founding member of the West Coast Rugby Referees Association, and also took his place on the West Coast Rugby Union's committee.

Highlights of his refereeing career would have to have been controlling the 1928 West Coast-Buller combined fixture against the All Blacks at Victoria Park in Greymouth and having the honour of being the first West Coast referee to be given a first-class match to officiate in, away from the West Coast, a Ranfurly Shield clash at Lancaster Park in Christchurch between Canterbury v Wellington in 1932.

Of his handling of the 1928 West Coast-Buller v All Blacks game, the September 13th Grey River Argus reported the following. "Mr T. Mclntosh carried the whistle and controlled the game in a manner which calls for the highest praise. Not one single interpretation was producture of the slightest sign of questioning, and nothing of count was let pass by him". Interestingly, McIntosh was also the West Coast Rugby Union's vice-president at the time of the match. 

McIntosh was also involved during his playing days as a committee member with his beloved Star club, and would rise through the ranks holding many positions within the club right up to the role of President, and from his lifetime commitment to the club, he'd be awarded a life-membership.

The 1948 Star R.F.C 50th Jubilee booklet said the following of McIntosh's playing career. "Another record that calls for mention here is that of Tom McIntosh, who represented West Coast for 16 years in succession. Tom captained his club for many years and was one of the best forwards to ever wear the amber and black jersey".

McIntosh would also help select and manage West Coast representative teams, and in 1945 he became president of the West Coast Rugby Union, and in 1949 was awarded a richly deserved life membership and following that, became the Union's patron.

Away from Rugby, McIntosh was also a representative cricketer for West Coast, and was heavily involved with the Greymouth Fire-Brigade, being the Chief Fire Officer until his retirement. Professionally, he was a carpenter, working as a foreman at Harley's Furniture factory on Herbert Street, while later working at Westland Construction until his retirement.

Thomas Edward McIntosh passed away aged 81 on May the 9th, 1969 in Greymouth, after an incredible life of service not only to the Star R.F.C and West Coast Rugby, but to the community, and we remember and applaud him for those incredible achievements and acts of service.