The RFL sends condolences to the friends and family of David Watkins MBE, who has died at the age of 81.
Watkins was added to the Rugby League Hall of Fame, the sport’s most illustrious recognition of on-field excellence, during the World Cup last autumn – when his wife, Jane, accepted the award on his behalf.
He will be remembered as one of the best cross-code converts from Wales, having won 21 caps for his country in rugby union in addition to captaining the British Lions, before he signed for Salford in 1967.
He became a key figure in a golden era for the Salford club, making more than 400 appearances for the Red Devils, and scoring almost 3,000 points as they were crowned champions twice in the space of three seasons in the mid-1970s, and also won the Lancashire Cup and the BBC Floodlit Trophy – in addition to reaching Wembley in the 1969 Challenge Cup Final.
He earned selection for Wales and Great Britain, including on the 1974 Lions tour of Australia, and was then appointed Great Britain coach for the 1977 World Cup.
He had brief stints with Swinton and Cardiff Blue Dragons before retiring in 1982, and in addition to coaching, he moved into the media, working as regular summariser alongside John Helm on ITV’s Scrumdown programme.
He was awarded the MBE in 1986 for services to Rugby League.
