Rugby league legend dead at 80: Tributes pour in as great tragically passes away after a battle with illness

Rugby league legend Syd Hynes has tragically passed away at the age of 80, his former club Leeds Rhinos have confirmed. 

Hynes is written into folklore in West Yorkshire, with the former centre, who was born in Leeds, playing 366 times for the club between 1965 and 1976, scoring 158 tries.

He then coached the club, initially as a player-coach, with Hynes winning multiple trophies during his tenure, including back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs in 1977 and 1978.

Hynes moved to Australia in the later years of his life and he passed away in Perth following a short illness.

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington, who had stayed in touch with Hynes throughout his retirement in Australia, paid tribute to him.

‘It is a sad day for the club to have lost a legendary player, captain and coach, who was an incredible character,’ he said.

Rugby league legend Syd Hynes has tragically passed away at the age of 80

 Hynes (right) is written into folklore with Leeds Rhinos after shining as a player and a coach

The former centre (left), who lived in Australia in his later years, passed after a short illness 

‘Our thoughts are with his two nieces and Syd’s many friends both here in England and over in Perth. 

‘We will pay tribute to Syd at our Boxing Day game and we will also look to organise an event for his former club and country team-mates and opponents to come together to celebrate his life in due course.’

Hynes also represented both Great Britain and England, making 17 appearances in the international arena, featuring in the 1970 World Cup.

The former centre, who captained Leeds, was signed by his boyhood club in October 1964 at the age of 21.

In honour of his numerous achievements, the former centre was inducted into the Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2019. 

In a statement announcing Hynes’ passing, which was accompanied by a video of some of his greatest moments on the pitch, Leeds shared a heartfelt message.

‘It is with much sadness that the club has learned today of the passing of legendary former player, captain and coach Syd Hynes, aged 80, following a short illness in Perth, Australia, where has lived for many years,’ he said.

In a wider post highlighting his achievements, they added: ‘Making his way to Headingley to ask for trials, he played two of his four ‘A’ team games at No 7 and was promptly signed as a professional in October 1964, three months after celebrating his 21st birthday.

In honour of his record, Hynes was inducted into the Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2019

‘Developing into a tenacious, no-quarter-asked-or-given centre of quick-witted resource and lively imagination, he was destined to play an increasingly prominent role from 1966 onwards, as the Loiners climbed from a barren valley of desolation to enjoy eight fabulous seasons on fertile uplands of matchless endeavour, with trophies merely the by-product of rugby as superb as any ever witnessed at Headingley.’

Hynes remains the only player-coach in Leeds’ history, while he won all seven finals he was in as a coach.   

After working as player-coach between 1975 and 1976, Hynes made the decision to hang up his boots due to injury, with the rugby league icon spending five further successful years solely as coach.

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