Former British rugby captain Mike Gregory died on 19 November, 2007, at the age of 43, after losing a long battle with a form of motor neurone disease.

He spent his entire playing career at Warrington and earned 20 caps for his country, captaining Great Britain to two Test series victories over New Zealand.

After retiring from playing, he became an assistant coach at St Helens before serving as head coach at Swinton Lions and his hometown club, Wigan Warriors. He also coached the Welsh national team at the 1995 World Cup and Scotland at the 2003 European Nations Cup.

Michael Keith Gregory was born in Wigan on 20 May, 1964. He was educated at Sacred Heart Primary, St. John Fisher High School and St. John Rigby Sixth Form College.

He began his career with amateur club Wigan St Patrick before playing at forward for Warrington for 12 years, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 45 tries. He was part of the Premiership Trophy-winning team in 1986 and captain in their 1990 Challenge Cup Final appearance.

The highlight of his international career was an incredible 80-metre try in Sydney in 1988 which gave Great Britain their first victory over Australia in a decade.

He retired in 1996 to become part of the staff behind the successful St Helens side of the late 1990s. He got his first experience as head coach at Swinton between 1998 and 2001 before joining the Wigan staff in 2003.

He became Wigan boss shortly afterwards when incumbent Stuart Raper left the club for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. After an impressive start as caretaker manager, in which an 11-game unbeaten streak put them into the Super League Grand Final, Mr Gregory was offered the job full-time with a two-year contract.

However, in 2004 he was forced to step down after being diagnosed with progressive muscular atrophy believed to the result of an insect bite in Australia where he had been working with the Great Britain youth team the previous year.

Mr Gregory took the club to court, claiming that they could have done more to help him continue his work. He said: "I feel robbed of a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am Wigan born and bred and I was very proud to be head coach of my home town team … this was my dream job." He was eventually given £17,500 in an out-of-court settlement.

The Mike Gregory Trust Fund was set up to raise awareness of his condition and raise money for his treatment and research into the causes of progressive muscular atrophy. The debilitating disease confined him to a wheelchair for the last year of his life.

He was survived by wife Erica and two sons, Sam and Ben.

Warrington chairman Lord Hoyle said: "Mike's brave battle against illness and his efforts to raise awareness of progressive muscular atrophy has been an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed, particularly by all his friends here at Warrington Wolves."

Former team-mate and friend, Warrington head Coach Paul Cullen, added: "It's a very sad day for us all. I have lost a true friend. My thoughts are with his family and friends."

Former Wigan and Great Britain centre Joe Lydon said: "Anyone who played with him or against him or watched him play would have respected Mike for his courage. He brought that same courage to his fight against an appalling illness. We are all lucky to have known him."

Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis added to the tributes, saying: "Mike was among the best players of his generation. He set a shining example with the character, bravery and determination that he showed on the field of play."