More than 200 mourners, many wearing rugby shirts and kit, turned out for the funeral of a 28-year-old amateur Bristol rugby player.

Robbie Stuart, whose last wish was for friends and family to wear rugby colours at the service, died at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on November 8 from pneumonia after a year long battle against leukaemia.

At the funeral yesterday at Canford Park Cemetery in Westbury, family, friends and team-mates gathered to pay their respects as Robbie's coffin was brought to the chapel, led by a bagpipe player.

Bristol Rugby players were among the mourners including Darren Crompton, Matt Salter, Roy Winters, Kevin Maggs and skipper Joe El Abd, Bristol academy manager coach Geoff Moon and former Bristol and current Gloucester player Alex Brown, as well as about 60 current and former Old Bristolians.

The service began with Robbie's father relating anecdotes about his son, who used to appear as Bristol Rugby's mascot, Brizzley Bear, on match days.

He said: "He touched everyone he ever met. Even in the last 13 months, he lived his life to the full."

He told how the family had thought Robbie was on the road to recovery, and were planning celebrations and holidays for when he was better.

He thanked Robbie's friends for their support and also thanked the doctors and nurses who looked after his son.

The hymns Bread of Heaven and Fight the Good Fight were sung, and there were also tributes from Robbie's brother, Iain and sister, Helen.

The mourners, some wearing their rugby shirts as requested by Robbie's family, were quiet and reflective as they listened to Reverend Anne Farmer speak about how touched she was by Robbie's life.

Although she never knew him, she said that she felt she did after reading the blog he wrote during his illness.

After quoting from it, she said: "Robbie did not waste any of his 28 years – he has left a marvellous legacy."

Alongside his brother Iain, Robbie had organised Bristol's first-ever fancy dress dodge ball tournament last summer, raising thousands of pounds for cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

To make a donation in Robbie's memory, please visit the Just Giving page which has been set up.

You can also pay your own tribute to Robbie at the Lasting Tribute website.