PRIOR to today’s opening game in the 2008 competition, Allan Bateman was the last Warrington player to represent Great Britain (now England) in the World Cup.
That came 16 years ago as the centre helped GB defeat France 36-0 at the Boulevard, Hull, towards the end of the 1989-1992 competition that ended with Australia defeating the Lions 10-6 in the final at Wembley.
Bateman, who had joined Warrington from Welsh rugby union, also represented Wales in the Centenary World Cup a few months after his primrose and blue career ended and before he started a new chapter with Cronulla Sharks.
The dual-code international appeared in group wins against France at Ninian Park in Cardiff and against Western Samoa at the Vetch Field in Swansea as Wales reached the semi finals.
He was unable to help Wales go any further but the team pushed England to the wire in a 25-10 loss at Old Trafford in front of around 10,000 fans who had travelled from all areas of Wales.
‘Batman’, as the Warrington fans liked to call him, scored 52 tries in 142 appearances in primrose and blue and was a member of the last Wolves team to win silerware - the Regal Trophy in 1991.
Log on again tomorrow for another feature on a Warrington World Cup hero.
Click on the following links to read about other Warrington World Cup heroes that we have featured so far.
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