Les Dyl: Leeds Rhinos mourn death of one of club's all-time greats

Dyl, a centre, is ninth on Leeds’ list of all-time appearances, with 434 from 1970-83 and 1984-85 and the club’s eighth-highest try scorer, with 193.

He was a member of the Leeds side who won the Championship in 1972, the 50th anniversary of which will be celebrated at the club’s latest Hall of Fame inauguration next month.

Dyl, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame two years ago, had been invited to attend and chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “Players from that team will be there and we will do something in recognition of Les on the night.

“I have been ringing round players in that team - David Ward, Alan Smith, Phil Cookson - and they are all devastated because he was a very popular player and character.

“It is a very sad loss.”

Dyl, who had been ill for some time, was born in Castleford on December 1, 1952 and made his debut as a 17-year-old substitute in a win away to Batley in 1970.

He came off the bench to replace John Atkinson, who later became his winger in one of rugby league’s great three-quarter partnerships.

A stalwart for the club for the next decade and a half, Dyl was at the centre, literally, of an outstanding era for Leeds, winning every domestic honour.

As well as the Championship triumph half a century ago, he was a Challenge Cup winner in 1977 and 1978.

Dyl also played in Leeds’ 1975 and 1979 Premiership successes, won the Yorkshire Cup five times (1972, 73, 75, 76 and 79) and the JP Trophy in the 1972-73 season.

At international level, he featured 13 times for England and earned 11 Great Britain caps, playing on three tours Down Under.

Dyl was famed for his speed and strength, but also boasted outstanding footwork and passing ability which set up countless tries for Atkinson on Leeds’ left-flank.

He was a try scorer at Wembley in 1977 and in three of his Yorkshire Cup victories.

He retired in 1983 to run a bar in Benidorm, but made a brief comeback the following year.

After leaving Leeds he had a spell with Bramley before hanging up his boots in 1989 and returning to the licensed trade to run a restaurant in Bridlington.

Hetherington recalled: “I was brought up in the same street as Les in Castleford and when I came to Leeds I played in the same team.

“He was a terrific player and a great team man.

“I reckon there was a spell when he was among the best centres in the world.

“He was rarely injured, he always played and he had electric speed and great strength.”