Leon Walker
Encyclopedia
Leon Walker was a British rugby league
player. His position of preference was at loose forward.
Walker joined the Salford City Reds
in 2006 and played for the club for three years. After his rookie season he was named the Salford Reds Junior Academy Player of the Year.
In 2007 Walker represented both the Yorkshire and England U18 sides.
He joined the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
in November 2008, joining their senior academy side.
and was a scaffolder by trade, and was the cousin and team mate of Luke Blake
.
where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was 20 years old at the time of his death. An inquest subsequently found that his death was the result of a rare undiagnosed heart defect, and the coroner ruled that he died of natural causes.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. His position of preference was at loose forward.
Playing career
Walker started playing rugby league for the amateur side, the Churwell Chiefs.Walker joined the Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in 2006 and played for the club for three years. After his rookie season he was named the Salford Reds Junior Academy Player of the Year.
In 2007 Walker represented both the Yorkshire and England U18 sides.
He joined the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in November 2008, joining their senior academy side.
Personal
Walker attended Morley High SchoolMorley High School
The Morley Academy is a co-educational comprehensive school for pupils ages 11–19 in West Yorkshire, England. Morley is situated 5 miles south-west of Leeds city centre with a population of about 50,000. The school has approximately 1,400 students enrolled. The head teacher is John Townsley...
and was a scaffolder by trade, and was the cousin and team mate of Luke Blake
Luke Blake
Luke Blake is a professional rugby league footballer who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and Dewsbury Rams.-External links:****...
.
Death
On 22 March 2009 Walker collapsed in the 63rd minute of a game against Crusaders Reserves at Maesteg rugby union ground. He was airlifted to Morriston Hospital, SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was 20 years old at the time of his death. An inquest subsequently found that his death was the result of a rare undiagnosed heart defect, and the coroner ruled that he died of natural causes.