Rugby Imports founder Bob Hoder, one of the shining lights of the rugby scene in the United States, died suddenly Monday. He was 78.

Hoder and his brother Mark started Rugby Imports, one of the earliest and longest-lasting American-based rugby supply companies. Based out of Rhode Island, Rugby Imports not only sold gear, but made its own jerseys in its own factory. Bob Hoder was a huge supporter of rugby in New England and around the country, sponsoring tournaments and providing a place where rugby players could find equipment back when that was enormously difficult to do.

Liked throughout the sport, Hoder was slated to go on a family vacation to Europe. Monday he was found unconscious in the basement of his home in Barrington, RI, and did not regain consciousness. His cause of death is unknown at present but he appeared to have died very suddenly.

His death is a huge loss to the game in the United States.

The following is edited from the Rugby Imports website:

Hoder captained the University of Rhode Island football team in 1961, going on to play professionally for the Providence Steamroller in his beloved Rhode Island. A football teammate, Tom Haggerty, introduced Hoder to rugby in 1966 and he never looked back. In 1967, Bob married Janet Huddlestone, of Yorkshire, England. Now that he had a family tie to England, Bob began to explore the idea of developing a rugby business in America. In 1971, on a trip to England, Bob met with Bert Moores, the man behind the Halbro brand of rugby jerseys. Bob - who had been running a successful business as a manufacturers' rep - decided to import Bert's Halbro jerseys to America, and Rugby Imports was born.

Bob Hoder went on to develop a long-term relationship with Irish rugby legend George Hook, and that relationship led to a proposal for a coaching accreditation program outlined by Hoder and run by Hook. Hoder was also the energy behind the massive Beast of the East tournament.