David Myers (rugby league)
{{short description|GB international rugby league footballer (1971–2008)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = David Myers
|fullname =
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1971|07|31|df=y}}
|birth_place = Widnes, Cheshire, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|10|20|1971|07|31|df=y}}
|death_place = Cheshire, England
|height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|position = {{Rlp|WG}}
|club1 = Widnes
|year1start = 1989
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 8
|tries1 = 3
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 12
|club2 = Warrington
|year2start = 1989
|year2end = 90
|appearances2 = 6
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|club3 = Wigan
|year3start = 1990
|year3end = 92
|appearances3 = 69
|tries3 = 38
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 152
|club4 = Manly Sea Eagles
|year4start = 1991
|year4end =
|appearances4 = 4
|tries4 = 1
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 4
|club6 = Widnes
|year6start = 1992
|year6end = 94
|appearances6 = 61
|tries6 = 21
|goals6 = 0
|fieldgoals6 = 0
|points6 = 84
|club7 = Bradford Northern
|year7start = 1994
|year7end = 95
|appearances7 = 28
|tries7 = 12
|goals7 = 0
|fieldgoals7 = 0
|points7 = 48
|club8 = Western Suburbs
|year8start = 1995
|year8end =
|appearances8 = 1
|tries8 = 0
|goals8 = 0
|fieldgoals8 = 0
|points8 = 0
|club9 = Salford Reds
|year9start = 1995
|year9end = 96
|appearances9 = 7
|tries9 = 0
|goals9 = 0
|fieldgoals9 = 0
|points9 = 0
|club10 = Widnes Vikings
|year10start = 1997
|year10end =
|appearances10 = 16
|tries10 = 2
|goals10 = 0
|fieldgoals10 = 0
|points10 = 8
|teamA = Great Britain U21
|yearAstart = 1991
|yearAend = 92
|appearancesA = 5
|triesA = 10
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 40
|teamB = Lancashire
|yearBstart = 1991
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 1
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 4
|source = RL Record Keepers' Club{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/david-myers/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{Rugby league records |id=4818 |title=David Myers |access-date=5 August 2023}}
|retired = yes
}}
David Myers (31 July 1971 – 20 October 2008) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played as a reserve at representative level for Great Britain in non-Test matches on the 1992 tour of Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand, and at club level for Widnes (two spells), Warrington, Wigan, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Bradford Bulls, Western Suburbs Magpies and Salford City Reds, as a {{rlp|wg}}.
Background
David Myers was born in Widnes, Cheshire, England on 31 July 1971. He played junior rugby league for Blackbrook before turning professional, joining Widnes in August 1988.{{cite book |editor-last1=Fletcher |editor-first1=Raymond |editor-last2=Howes |editor-first2=David |title=Rothmans Rugby League yearbook 1989–90 |date=1989 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-356-17850-9 |page=384}}
Playing career
=Early career=
Myers made his senior debut for Widnes in February 1989, scoring a hat trick against Oldham.{{cite news |title=Davies is the boyo |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/186956223/ |work=The Guardian |date=6 February 1989 |page=15 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}} He made eight appearances for the club during the 1988–89 season.
In August 1989, Myers was the subject of a contract dispute between Widnes and Warrington, with both clubs claiming they had signed the player.{{cite news |title=Hornets step up chase |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/187003289 |work=The Guardian |date=17 August 1989 |page=18 |id={{ProQuest|187003289}} |url-access=subscription }} The Rugby Football League ruled in favour of Warrington,{{cite news |title=Plenty of middle ground on Myers deal |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/186946810 |work=The Guardian |date=13 October 1989 |page=20 |id={{ProQuest|186946810}} |url-access=subscription }} with an independent tribunal setting the transfer fee at an initial £35,000, potentially rising to £80,000 depending on future appearances.{{cite news |title=Leeds told to pay more for Divorty |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/186972829 |work=The Guardian |date=26 October 1989 |page=16 |id={{ProQuest|186972829}} |url-access=subscription }} Myers made six appearances for Warrington during the 1989–90 season, but was transfer listed in February 1990 after failing to impress at the club.{{cite news |title=Skerrett sent off as Northern break down |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/187053211/ |work=The Guardian |date=1 February 1990 |page=13 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}
=Wigan=
Myers joined Wigan, scoring a try on his debut against Sheffield Eagles in September 1990.{{cite web |title=David Myers |url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=739 |website=www.cherryandwhite.co.uk |access-date=26 June 2022}} He played and scored in Wigan's 13–8 victory over St Helens in the 1991 Challenge Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 27 April 1991, and played on the {{rlp|wg}} when Joe Lydon missed the game due to injury, and scored a try in the defending champions Wigan's 21–4 victory over the visiting Penrith Panthers in the 1991 World Club Challenge during the 1991–92 season at Anfield, Liverpool on Wednesday 2 October 1991, Shaun Edwards intercepting in his own half and giving the ball to Myers a few yards from the try line. Myers had been picked ahead of Mark Preston by coach John Monie, but ended scoring only half the amount of tries Preston had.
Following the arrival of Martin Offiah, Myers was dropped at Wigan, but was nevertheless selected during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand as a replacement for injured players but failed to play in any significant games.{{cite news |title=New chance for Myers and McNamara |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/187391787 |work=The Guardian |date=19 June 1992 |page=19 |id={{ProQuest|187391787}} |url-access=subscription}}
=Later career=
In October 1992, Myers was sold to Widnes in an exchange deal which saw Paul Atcheson join Wigan from Widnes.{{cite news |title=Widnes trade Atcheson for Myers|newspaper=The Guardian|page=17|date=8 October 1992|id={{ProQuest|187293976}}}} He continued by losing in the Challenge Cup with his new team, Myers played on the {{rlp|wg}}, in Widnes' 14–20 defeat by Wigan in the 1993 Challenge Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1993.
In 1994, Myers was signed by Bradford Northern for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Myers signs for Bradford Northern |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-myers-signs-for-bradford-northern-1417918.html |website=The Independent |access-date=15 July 2023 |date=2 July 1994}}
Myers switched codes to rugby union later in his career, representing Widnes RUFC.{{cite web |title=Widnes rugby legend Myers dies in car crash |url=https://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/3779035.widnes-rugby-legend-myers-dies-in-car-crash/ |website=Runcorn and Widnes World |access-date=23 June 2022 |date=21 October 2008}} He eventually moved into coaching, and was the assistant coach at Bowdon Rugby Club at the time of his death.{{cite web |title='Robbed of a star' |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/robbed-of-a-star-971162 |website=Manchester Evening News |date=19 April 2010 |access-date=23 June 2022}}
Death
Myers died aged 37 in a car accident on the M6 motorway in Sandbach, Cheshire, England.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7682710.stm
|title=Rugby league star killed in crash
|date=21 October 2008
|access-date=22 October 2008
|publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_4366197,00.html|title=Myers Dies in Crash Tragedy|date=21 October 2008|access-date=22 October 2008|publisher=Sky Sports}} It was confirmed in a coroner's report that Myers was using steroids and amphetamines whilst driving, and died of a heart attack, although the report also concluded that the two drugs had contributed to this.{{cite web
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8038540.stm|title=Crash rugby star had heart attack|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk (BBC News)|access-date=7 May 2009|last=|first=|date=7 May 2009}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Wigan RLFC - 1991 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1991 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1992 Tour}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Myers, David}}
Category:Bradford Bulls players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain under-21 national rugby league team players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players
Category:Road incident deaths in England
Category:Rugby league players from Widnes
Category:Salford Red Devils players
Category:Wakefield Trinity players
Category:Warrington Wolves players
Category:Western Suburbs Magpies players