A RUGBY league player has been killed in a crash in Burtonwood.

Swinton Lions forward Dana Wilson, a Cook Island international who was a key member of their promotion-winning team in Championship One this year, died in the crash at around 3.30am yesterday, Sunday.

Swinton chairman John Kidd said: "We are all stunned.

"Dana was a great personality who has made a massive contribution to the success the club has achieved this season.

"He was a big character both on and off the pitch and our sympathy goes out to his family both here and in New Zealand."

Mr Wilson, aged 28 who lived with his wife Kirsten and three children in Newton-le-Willows, was born in Auckland but had played in England for the last six years.

He played for Leigh Centurions too in his career.

Cheshire police say he was travelling in a silver Fiat Punto along Lumber Lane towards Burtonwood. The car left the road near to the junction with Forshaw Lane and collided with a tree.

The driver sustained fatal injuries and nobody else was injured. Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 458 0000 quoting incident number 312 of September 4.