JIM Challinor was a rare breed.
He remains one of only two men to have played in and coached Great Britain sides that have won the Rugby League World Cup, the other being Eric Ashton.
The winger or centre helped GB finish top of the deciding league table in 1960, appearing in the Lions’ second win against France at Swinton.
Challinor was in his eighth of 11 seasons with Warrington at the time but perhaps his most famous achievement was to come 12 years later when he was coach of both St Helens and Great Britain.
He steered a new-look Lions side, ranked as no-hopers by the Aussies, to glory in the 1972 French tournament.
Tragically, four years later, Challinor died of cancer, aged 42.
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Challinor, who joined Warrington from the junior club, Orford, formed a magnificent right-hand side partnership to wingman Brian Bevan, appearing together almost 200 times.
During his 282 appearances with the club, scoring 135 tries, he won the Challenge Cup in 1954, the Championship in 1954 and 1955 as well as the Lancashire Cup in 1959.
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