Tributes paid to John Mantle

FORMER dual-code rugby international John Mantle has died at the age of 76 after a long illness.

The Cardiff-born forward played rugby league for St Helens, Great Britain and Wales after making two Test appearances for the latter at rugby union.

Mantle played 435 matches for Saints, including 19 major finals.

“It’s with great sadness that we hear of the passing of an all-time great Saint, John Mantle,” said St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus.

“He was from that era of magnificent players who moulded St Helens into the world famous rugby league club that it is today.

“He moved from Welsh rugby union, laid down his family roots in St Helens, and became a great player in one of our greatest-ever sides.”

Mantle was a member of the Saints side that won four trophies in 1965-66, when he played 48 matches. He was capped 13 times for Great Britain and 16 times by Wales.

Mantle, who was inducted into the St Helens players’ association hall of fame, went on to have spells with Salford, Leigh, Barrow, Keighley, Oldham, Cardiff and Blackpool, where he brought down the curtain on his career in 1982.

“John achieved legendary status with his club and country and will be greatly missed by his former playing colleagues and supporters,” added Wales Rugby League chairman Brian Juliff.

In union, he played number eight for Newport RFC.

“If only Wales could have held onto him he would surely have become of the greats of Welsh rugby union, rather than rugby league. He was big, powerful, quick and incredibly athletic,” said former Wales flanker John Taylor, who played alongside Mantle at Loughborough College.