Globe-trotting former Barrow prop forward Hugh Waddell has died at the age of 60.
The no-nonsense forward played for Barrow on 19 occasions in the 1997-98 season, crossing for a brace of tries and kicking one goal.
He made his debut for the Craven Park club at home to Leigh and departed following his game with Widnes in February 1998.
Waddell was a fine forward with a string of clubs (11) behind a successful career that included Whitehaven and Carlisle.
He was born in Ayr, Scotland, but was brought up in Burton-on-Trent and had trials with Leicester City, but it was the oval ball that took his eye while playing for Burton RUFC
Though he had trials with Keighley in 1980, it was as a 24-year-old that he signed for Blackpool Borough in 1984 and within 12 months was picked for England.
It was while on holiday with his mates at Blackpool that for a bet he walked into the ground and asked for a trial and the rest is history.
It was then off to Oldham for a couple of seasons, where he shone and was selected to play for Great Britain on their 1988 tour Down Under.
Hugh played in the famous 26-12 win over Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground along with fellow forwards Mike Gregory and Roy Powell, who are also both sadly no longer with us. He played five times for GB before joining Leeds later that year.
Hugh went on his travels before finally ending up in Barrow, but previously he was at the Recreation Ground with Whitehaven, where he gained four caps for Scotland.
He picked up medals in his career; a Second Division Premiership medal with Oldham and a First Division medal with Leeds. He also had to be satisfied with a runners-up medal in the Yorkshire cup while at Sheffield.
Hugh also had a spell in Australia with the Manly club. In 2004, at the age of 45, he was still playing rugby union for Carlisle in National League Three.
Hugh, who died last Friday, was due at the dinner of the past Oldham players the same day and was expected to be at Headingley on November 23 for the Rugby League Cares big bash.
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