The recent Sports Personality of the Year awards was capped off by remembering those we lost, including 14 figures from rugby league, from players, to coaches, to referees, and also broadcasters.
Rugby League didn’t claim any awards in 2025 with neither Hull KR’s men or Wigan Warriors’ women nominated for the Team of the Year despite their treble-winning seasons.
Wigan even managed to win the mid-season Nines tournament as well but it wasn’t enough for a nod as the European Ryder Cup-winning team, England’s women’s Euros-winning team, and the Red Roses’ World Cup-winning team were all shortlisted, with the golfers coming out on top.
However, Sports Personality of the Year isn’t just about the winners, it’s also about recalling what happened in that year. Some of that was positive with both Hull KR and Wigan’s accomplishments noted, but there was also a moment of reflection as we remembered those who we had lost.
Just a handful of names were shown on the broadcast but BBC Sport have since released a more complete list remembering the sporting figures who passed away in 2025, including 14 from rugby league.
Remembering the rugby league figures who passed in 2025
The 14 men below were featured as part of BBC Sport’s ‘In Memoriam’ style article and are listed in alphabetical order of surname.
Peter Banner
A Welsh international, making all nine of his appearances in 1975, Banner spent much of his club career with Salford, where he played 180 games. The scrum-half would also play for Halifax, Featherstone and Leeds.
Jack Brannan
The Wigan-born scrum-half played over 450 games in his career with 329 of those coming for Salford, as well as a further 121 at Blackpool Borough.
Jackie Edwards
Despite having his career cut short aged 24 due to a spinal injury, Edwards played an incredible 223 games for Warrington Wolves, scoring 78 tries, with the scrum-half debuting aged 16.
Ray French
The voice of rugby league for so many years. There likely isn’t a single rugby league fan who hasn’t heard some of his iconic commentary, be it live or on highlights. It wasn’t just broadcasting for French though as he had been a dual-code international as well, playing four times for Great Britian.
Frank Haigh
A prop who played for Wakefield and Keighley, including in Trinity’s famous win over the touring Australians in 1956.
Derek Hallas
Spent the bulk of his career with Keighley but also played for Leeds and for Parramatta with his most memorable moment being his two tries against Warrington in the 1961 Championship Final at Odsal.
David Hill
Played over 325 times for Wigan whilst also making an appearance for Great Britain in 1971.
Doug Laughton
An impressive playing career that saw him represent St Helens, Wigan, Widnes and Canterbury, as well as Great Britian on 15 occasions, was eclipsed by his incredible coaching career with three separate stints at hometown club Widnes. During that first stint, he oversaw a World Club Challenge win and multiple domestic trophies. Laughton can also be credited for bringing the likes of Martin Offiah to rugby league.
Johannes Logan
A South Sydney Rabbitohs youth player, Logan passed away at just 19, having represented the club’s pathways throughout 2025.
Danny Peacock
Part of the Bradford Bulls side who won Super League in 1997, Peacock was a versatile back who ended his career with the Bulls after a knee injury.
Brian Scrivens
A dual-code player who joined Wigan in 1959 and was part of the club’s Championship winning side in 1960.
Cliff Tamou
A New Zealander who moved to the UK and become an influential member of the North West’s rugby league community, in particular for fellow match officials.
Derek Whitehead
A Lance Todd trophy winner with Warrington in 1974 who also earned three caps for Great Britian. Whitehead played a total of 274 games for Wire, having started his career with his hometown club of Swinton.
Robin Whitfield
A referee of the finest order, taking charge of three Challenge Cup Finals but also being appointed to a State of Origin game in Australia.
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