West Cumbrian rugby player Mark Cox dies aged 45
Mark Cox, a former Wath Brow amateur, who went on to play for both Whitehaven and Workington Town, has died at the age of 45.
Former clubs have paid tribute to the prop forward who gained international recognition while playing for the Hornets.
He gained further international honours soon after signing for Haven as an 18-year-old in July 1996 when he represented the Great Britain Academy against the French equivalent.
Mark soon became a first team regular at the Recreation Ground and between 1997 and 2005 made 114 appearances for the club, scoring seven tries.
A full-blooded, hard hitting prop forward he was eventually signed by London Broncos to play in the Super League, encouraged to step up by former team mate Rob Purdham who was already starring in the capital.
But after only four senior appearances, three of them from the bench, his career suffered a major blow.
He received serious injuries to his leg, body and head in a collision with a car in the King’s Road, Chelsea.
For the next two months he was in hospital – Guys in London and Preston Royal – before he was released and against all the odds, and showing great determination, battled back to resume his career.
His contract with the Broncos had been cancelled but two years after originally leaving for London he re-signed for Haven.
He actually made his second debut as a sub coming on to help Whitehaven beat Workington 28-8 at Derwent Park.
But the return to the Recreation Ground was a short one and after just eight appearances (six from the bench) he moved to Workington, initially on loan.
He wasn’t the same player after the dreadful injuries suffered in London and although he stayed three years at Town he only made 24 appearances (thirteen of them as a sub) and in July 2007 he left the pro game.
He actually played for the Brow before hanging up his boots but has been involved in the coaching group at the club.
Currently coach of the club’s Under-16’s team he had been in charge of them since they were Under-10s.
He leaves a wife, Leanne, and two sons with condolences to family, friends and Wath Brow Hornets from his former professional clubs.
