Former Great Britain and Wigan legend Mike Gregory died today, aged 43, following a four-year battle with a neurological disease.

Gregory's family traced his illness back to an insect bite while on tour of Australia with the Great Britain academy team in 2003. It is thought the bite caused him to develop progressive muscular atrophy, a form of motor neurone disease.

He spent the last three years battling the illness and won many new admirers for his courage in adversity.

Gregory played virtually his entire career with Warrington and won 20 caps for his country, the most memorable of them in the third Test in Sydney in 1988 when his long-range try clinched the first British victory over Australia in a decade.

He also captained Great Britain to two Test series victories over New Zealand before beginning a career in coaching.

He succeeded Staurt Raper as head coach at his home-town club in July 2004 and, after guiding the Warriors to a an 11-match unbeaten run culminating in a Grand Final appearance, he was given the job full-time on a two-year contract.

He took Wigan to the Challenge Cup final the following May but that was to prove his last match.