The family of a star rugby player have paid tribute to his life and remarkable career on the pitch – which saw him play at a Wembley Challenge Cup final.

Don Wilson, of Egremont, passed away last month aged 87, and has been described by his loved-ones as a “proper gentleman” with a “true passion” for rugby.

He will be remembered for his rugby league career, which started at Egremont Rangers, before he went on to play 11 seasons for Barrow RLFC between 1952 and 1963.

Don’s niece, Diane Ford said: “He was brought up with rugby. He was just rugby through and through. He just loved it. I don’t think ‘love’ is strong enough.”

Lisa Tyson, Don’s niece, said: “It’s always been very close to his heart. It was a true passion.”

Don started playing rugby union and league U18s at Egremont. In 1952, he was signed by Barrow RLFC, at the age of 18. He also played rugby union during his national service where he played for the Royal Artillery against the Royal Engineers.

Don’s proudest achievement was walking out at Wembley to a crowd of 73,000 for the 1957 Rugby League cup final where he played in the second row for Barrow against Leeds.

He never wavered from his assertion that he did ground his disallowed try which would have seen Barrow victorious. It was something that Don still spoke about “all the time”. He was known for playing with his sleeves rolled up and once famously played for an hour with a broken leg after colliding with Ces Thompson at Workington.

Don also represented his county, being part of what has been described as the best back three to grace a Cumberland side alongside Dick Huddart and Brian Edgar, these three spearheading Cumberland’s triumph in 1961-62.

Injury forced Don to hang up his boots in 1963 but he returned to his amateur RL roots coaching the under 17s and under 19s at Egremont Rangers. He subsequently steered them to a four-trophy trophy successes in 1969-70.

He enjoyed watching Whitehaven Rugby League and when the team played Barrow, an announcement was made that Don Wilson was in the stands.

Lisa said: “He was a man of high morals. He was a proper gentleman. He was always considerate. He was thoughtful and generous.

“He loved telling a tale. He had a good sense of humour. He loved to reminisce and in such detail. He wasn’t a show-off. He was massively proud of what he had done.”

Diane said: “His stories were really good. You couldn’t walk out of the room and not listen to the end of it.

“He was a good sport and the life and soul of the party. He’s just a big miss.”

Andrew Tyson, Don’s nephew, added: “He was very proud but unassuming. It’s the end of an era.”

Don was born on October 25, 1934 to Gertie and Tom Wilson. He spent his early childhood on South Street in Egremont and had five brothers - Eric, Stan, Colin, Frank and Clive.

The Wilson family moved from South Street to Sunny Side, Castle Croft, Egremont in May 1945.

Don attended Bookwell School and would play rugby in the street with his brother, Eric. Upon leaving school at the age of 15, Don went to work for Harry Bowes, working on the boreholes in and around Egremont.

In 1956 Don did his National Service where he served as a Lance Bombardier in D Troop, 172 BTY, 64th Training Regiment of the Royal Artillery at Oswestry.

Don went to work at Calder Hall as a fitters’ mate In 1958 where he took immense pride in looking after the turbine halls.

While at a dance in Egremont Market Hall, a young lady called Christine MacLennan caught his eye. Don and Christine were married in 1968 at St Mary’s and St Michael’s Church and they lived at East Road for their entire married life.

Don took early retirement from Calder Hall in 1993. He and his wife loved going on holiday and travelled to places like Australia, Jamaica, Italy and France but Don’s favourite holiday destination was Benidorm. He was always happy there with a cold beer or an ice cream, with Christine by his side.

In 2013, Don lost his beloved Christine and life was “never the same” for him. Following a bout of ill health Don had to leave his home in East Road and move into care. He spent his last few years in Emmaus House at Moresby where he continued to tell his rugby tales right up to the end.