Mick Burke

Michael Burke (25 September 1958) is an English former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A Great Britain and England international representative , he played his club rugby for Widnes, with whom he won two Challenge Cups and two Lancashire Cups, and Oldham.

1980s Also during the 1979–80 season Burke played on the wing in Widnes' 0–6 loss against Bradford Northern in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980. Burke made his international début for Great Britain in 1980 against New Zealand. During the 1980–81 season Burke played at fullback, scored a try, and 4 conversions, winning the Lance Todd Trophy as Man of the match, in the 18–9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1981 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981. Burke won further caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1981 against France (sub), During the 1981–82 season Burke played at fullback in the 3–8 defeat by Leigh in the 1981 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981.

Mick Burke played , and scored a conversion in Widnes 14–14 draw with Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, and played , and scored 3-conversions in the 9–18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171.

In 1982 he was man-of-the-match in Widnes' Premiership Final victory over Hull. Burke won further caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1983 against France. During the 1983–84 season Burke played at fullback in the 8–12 defeat by Barrow in the 1983 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 October 1983. Also during the 1983–84 season Burke played at fullback and scored a conversion in the 10–18 defeat by Leeds in the 1983–84 John Player Special Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 January 1984. Burke won a cap for England while at Widnes in 1984 against Wales. During the 1983–84 season Burke played in the 19–6 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984. Burke had earned a spot in the Great Britain side that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1984. Burke won further caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1984 against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), and Papua New Guinea.

Burke won further caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1985 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1986 against France.

Burke had amassed 316 points, beating the old record by 34 points. Burke was one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into The Widnes Hall of Fame in 1992.

After retirement from playing, Burke worked in roofing before setting up a family-run home care company for vulnerable adults with his son, Michael Jnr.