England rugby legend Mike Slemen has passed away at the age of 69.
Slemen was part of his country’s 1980 grand slam-winning team and represented the British & Irish Lions in their tour of South Africa that year.
Growing up in Liverpool, he attended St Edward’s College and later returned to his home city as a PE teacher at Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby.
Upon his retirement in 1984 after 31 appearances, Slemen held the distinction of becoming at the time the most capped winger in English union history
He returned to local club Liverpool St Helens as a coach and also enjoyed a stint with the national side during Geoff Cooke’s tenure in the early 1990s.
Bill Beaumont, Slemen’s ex-England teammate and head of World Rugby, paid a glowing tribute to ‘a great rugby player and a great all-round sportsman’.
“He gave so much to the game in his playing days, as a club and England coach and as Director of Sport at Merchant Taylors School, Crosby,” said Beaumont.
“He will be very much missed as someone whose generous spirit and outstanding athleticism graced our sport.
“Our thoughts are with his wife, Eileen, and his family.”