League legend Foster dies aged 90

Foster won three caps for Britain and played 16 times for Wales

Rugby league legend Trevor Foster has died aged 90 following a short illness.

A former Great Britain international, he was one of the sport's best-known figures thanks to his work for Bradford Northern, now the Bradford Bulls.

Not only did he score 130 tries in 432 games for the club, the Newport-born forward also helped save it from extinction when it folded in 1963.

Foster, who was awarded the MBE in 2001, won three GB caps and also played 16 times for Wales, seven as captain.

His death comes just three days after he launched his own biography which celebrated an unbroken association of 67 years with the Bradford club, initially as a player, then as coach and director and more recently as timekeeper.

Trevor was an incredible inspiration to everyone who came in contact with him Chris Caisley Bradford Bulls chairman

A forward with Newport, Foster went North in 1938 when he turned professional with Bradford for the sum of £400.

He went on to become the key forward of an outstanding Bradford side in the post-war period, scoring a try in both of the Challenge Cup final wins in 1947 and 1949.

He was also known for his sportsmanship and fair play, never once being cautioned or sent off in his 17-year career.

He was inducted into the Wales Sport Hall of Fame in 2004, joining the likes of snooker player Terry Griffiths, cricketer Tony Lewis and footballer Ivor Powell.

He was a great servant to Bradford and the game as a whole and will be sadly missed From AN Post your tributes on Five Live

Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley was quick to pay tribute to Foster.

"Trevor was an incredible inspiration to everyone who came in contact with him," said Caisley.

"He served the club, the sport of rugby league and the city of Bradford loyally for well over sixty years and will be sadly missed by everyone.

"It is a tragedy for Trevor that he didn't live to see the redevelopment of Odsal Stadium, something he has worked tirelessly for over the years.

"We will press on with our plans for Odsal and it would be a fitting tribute to Trevor to see them come to fruition.

"Away from the club he raised an enormous amount of money for charities and his work in that area was rewarded when he was awarded the MBE in 2001."

No-one, on and off the field, has shown the same passion for the 13-a-side code as Foster Ray French Ray French's top union converts

Bulls coach Brian Noble added: "Trevor was an inspiration to me throughout my life.

"It was Trevor who took me to the Police Boys Club in Manningham, where I lived and he introduced me to rugby league.

"The word 'legend' is often used to describe sportsmen, sometimes unjustifiably, but in Trevor's case it is an understatement.

"He was a great player but more importantly he was a great man. I will miss him tremendously."