Roy Haggerty

Roy Haggerty (22 March 1960 – 22 April 2018) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played for St Helens, Barrow and Highfield who began his career playing as a before later playing as a forward.

Capped twice for Great Britain Haggerty was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia but did not play in any Test matches. He also appeared once for Lancashire in a game against Yorkshire.

Two of his sons Gareth Haggerty and Kurt Haggerty are also professional rugby league footballers.

Playing career St Helens Born in Thatto Heath, Haggerty played for local amateur side Pilkington Recs before he signed for St Helens as a teenager. He made his first team début playing centre in a 31–20 defeat by Widnes in the John Player Trophy on 30 September 1979.

The first of his 115 tries for St Helens came on 9 October against Rochdale Hornets.

A constant presence in the St Helens side for 12 seasons, Haggerty made 363 appearances scoring 115 tries and kicking 20 drop goals.

In the early part of his career Haggerty played as a , but in 1984 St Helens signed Mal Meninga, considered at the time the best centre in the world. When told of the move Haggerty reportedly said "where are they going to play him?", the answer was in Haggerty's place in the centres and Haggerty was moved into the forwards to play at where he played for the rest of his career. After a short spell with Highfield and another with Huddersfield, Haggerty retired at the end of the 1992–93 season.

Haggerty died from a blocked artery caused by coronary heart disease on 22 April 2018, aged 58.

International career In 1987 Haggerty was selected to play for Great Britain in two test matches against France, he did not score in either game but Great Britain won both matches. Haggerty was selected for the 1988 Great Britain tour to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand and while he played in some of the representative matches he did not play in any of the test matches.