Mark 'Spider' McInnes is being remembered as a great leader who was "like a father figure" to Easts Rugby Club after he passed away from kidney failure earlier this week.
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The ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union community is in mourning following the death of McInnes on Wednesday, aged 56.
McInnes was a former ACT representative and captain of Easts rugby, where he left an indelible mark for his contribution to the club.
Wallabies and ACT Brumbies great George Gregan, who made his first grade debut alongside McInnes, led the tributes with a touching message, remembering the late backrower as a father figure.
"He was a great man, a wonderful player and more importantly as a youngster coming into club rugby he looked after us," Gregan said.
"He was like a father figure for us at Easts Rugby Club and a great leader both on and off the field.
"From a personal experience, as a number nine I always felt incredibly safe whenever I knew Spider was playing alongside me.
"Win, lose or draw, once we got back to the club, he was in the thick of it, making sure everyone was having a good time and looking after each other. That was Spider."
McInnes was a product of St Edmunds College and went on to play 36 representative games for the ACT between 1986 and 1990. He was selected in the Wallaby squad that toured France and Canada in 1989, where he would play four non-Test matches for Australia.
He's considered one of the most unlucky not to have played a Test for Australia, having suffered a knee injury while playing for the ACT against NSW in 1990.
McInnes would also go on to play for Wasps (England) and Peebles (Scotland).
In the ACT first grade competition, McInnes won the Tommy Byrne Memorial Trophy for the best and fairest in 1987. He was appointed the captain of Easts in 1989, the year he also won the prestigious MacDougall Medal.
He went on to play for the Classic Wallabies later in life, allowing him to continue playing rugby after his career was cut short through injury.