Last updated at 12:00, Tuesday, 20 January 2009

A FORMER rugby league player who was a team mate of the great Willie Horne, has died nine days after he was involved in a road collision on his bike.

By Natalie Chapples

William Hopkins, 89, from Barrow, suffered serious head injuries after his bike collided with a Fiat Punto car on at the junction of Friars Lane and Bridgegate Avenue, in Barrow, on January 5.

Mr Hopkins, known as Billy, died on Wednesday at Furness General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

In the 1940s he teamed up alongside Barrow rugby league legend Willie Horne for Risedale Old Boys. Mr Hopkins was scrum-half and Mr Horne was stand-off.

The Second World War veteran was also known as Screwy Hopkins and was a self-employed bricklayer.

First published at 11:53, Friday, 16 January 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk