The RFL has extended its condolences to the family of Terry Clawson, the 1972 Rugby League World Cup winner, who died suddenly at his home in Pontefract earlier this week.

Clawson, who was 73, enjoyed a distinguished career as a ball-handling forward with Featherstone, Bradford, Leeds, Oldham, York, Wakefiel, Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC in the 1960s and 1970s and was capped 14 times by Great Britain.

He won a Championship final with Leeds in 1972, when he won the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match, but his finest hour came later that year when he was a member of the Great Britain team that won the Rugby League World Cup in Lyon.

“Our thoughts are with Terry’s family at this very sad time,” said RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood.

“It is particularly sad and poignant that Terry’s passing has come in this, a World Cup year.

“Terry will not just be remembered as a great Rugby League player, he will be remembered as one of the game’s great characters.”

A funeral service will take place at Pontefract Crematorium on Thursday September 12 (11.20am).