Wikipedia

Adam Walker (rugby league)

Adam Walker (20 February 1991 – 4 October 2022) was a Scotland international rugby league prop. At club level he played for the Huddersfield Giants, Hull Kingston Rovers, St Helens, Wakefield Trinity and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League, and on loan from Huddersfield at the Barrow Raiders and the Swinton Lions in the Championship.[4]

Adam Walker
Walker in 2019
Personal information
Born(1991-02-20)20 February 1991
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Died4 October 2022(2022-10-04) (aged 31)
Playing information
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Weight17 st 2 lb (109 kg)[1]
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–12 Huddersfield Giants 6 0 0 0 0
2011(loan) → Barrow Raiders 16 0 0 0 0
2012(loan) → Swinton Lions 7 2 0 0 8
2013–16 Hull Kingston Rovers 108 9 0 0 36
2017 St Helens 9 1 0 0 4
2017 Wakefield Trinity 7 0 0 0 0
2019 Salford Red Devils 25 4 0 0 16
Total 178 16 0 0 64
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–19 Scotland 14 1 0 0 4
Source: [2][3]
As of 4 October 2022

Background

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Walker was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He was the twin brother of fellow rugby league player Jonathan Walker.[5]

Playing career

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Huddersfield Giants

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Walker started his career at Huddersfield in 2010 where he played sporadically only making 6 appearances for the Giants. He spent most of 2011 on loan at Barrow where he made 16 appearances. In 2012 Walker was sent out on loan again, this time to Swinton where he played 7 times scoring twice.

Hull Kingston Rovers

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Walker was sold to Hull KR in 2013 after claiming that he wanted a new challenge, and also that Hull KR is a big club.[6] He scored his first try for Hull KR against London Broncos.[7]

 
Walker playing for Hull KR in 2016

Walker played 107 times for Hull KR until he rejected a reduced contract when the club was relegated after losing the Million Pound Game to Salford.[citation needed]

St Helens

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After departing Hull KR, Walker signed for St Helens for the 2017 season. His time at St Helens was unsuccessful and he failed to see out the end of the season at the club as he was sold to Wakefield Trinity after making only 9 appearances for the club scoring one try.

Wakefield Trinity

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After an unsuccessful start to the season at St Helens, Walker signed for Wakefield on a 2½-year deal[8] but only played 7 times before being dismissed when he tested positive for cocaine.[9]

Salford Red Devils

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Walker signed a 2-season contract with Salford commencing at the completion of his drugs ban in March 2019.[10]

He played in the 2019 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens at Old Trafford.[11][12]

On 21 February 2020 it was announced that, by mutual agreement, Walker had left Salford with immediate effect[13][14]

Leigh Centurions

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On 11 August 2020 it was announced that Walker had signed for the Leigh Centurions.[15] Only three months later, on 17 November 2020 it was announced that Walker had terminated his contract with Leigh with immediate effect.[16]

International career

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In October 2013, Walker was selected to play for Scotland in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He made his international début against Tonga in the group stage. Further appearances followed in October and November 2014, as Walker played in the 2014 European Cup competition. He played in all of Scotland's games and scored a try in their fixture against France.

In October and November 2015, Walker played in the 2015 European Cup competition.

Personal life and death

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On 27 January 2016, Walker was charged with two offences of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, with a court appearance due later in February of that year. He remained available for selection.[17] All charges were ultimately dismissed.[18]

In August 2017, Walker was suspended for 20 months after testing positive for cocaine usage during a drugs test.[19]

Walker died on 4 October 2022, at the age of 31.[20] His death was reported as suicide and he had been suffering from depression and anxiety.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Adam Walker Hull Kingston Rovers". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Adam Walker". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  3. ^ Rugby League Project
  4. ^ "Walker set for Giants debut DEBUT". Sportinglife. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Super League: Jonathan Walker leaves Castleford to join twin at Hull KR". Sky Sports. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Hull KR sign Huddersfield Giants prop Adam Walker". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Hull KR: Adam Walker in line for shock return against London Broncos". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Wakefield sign Walker from Saints". Serious about Rugby League. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Wakefield suspend Adam Walker after positive drug test". The Guardian. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Bradford-born Adam Walker to resume career at Salford after drugs ban". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. ^ "St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford". The Telegraph. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  12. ^ "St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian. 12 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Adam Walker: Salford Red Devils announce prop's exit by mutual agreement". BBC Sport. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Salford part ways with Adam Walker". www.loverugbyleague.com. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Adam Walker signes for Leigh Centurions". www.rugby-league.com. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Adam Walker departs Leigh". www.loverugbyleague.com. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league player faces child sex charges". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Bradford-born rugby league star Adam Walker speaks of delight as child sex offences are dropped". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Adam Walker: Wakefield Trinity prop suspended for positive cocaine drugs test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  20. ^ Bower, Aaron (4 October 2022). "Former Hull KR prop Adam Walker passes away as tributes pour in". HullLive. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  21. ^ Campbell, James (4 October 2022). "Tragedy of Adam Walker as troubled rugby star's death confirmed". HullLive. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
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