Rugby giants bid final farewell to tragic player

The ex-Leeds, Bradford, Wigan and Wakefield hooker was found hanged at his home almost a fortnight ago, shocking everyone involved in the game.

Newton, 31, was laid to rest yesterday with more than 1,000 people attending his funeral at Wigan Parish Church including former Great Britain captains Garry Schofield and Paul Sculthorpe, ex-Bradford and GB boss Brian Noble, RFL president Bev Risman and Wigan and New Zealand legend Graeme West.

Just hours before flying out to the Four Nations in New Zealand and Australia, newly-appointed England skipper Adrian Morley was among the pall-bearers alongside Barrie McDermott, both having memorably featured with their great friend in Leeds's1999 Challenge Cup final win at Wembley.

Ex-Wigan and Great Britain colleagues Terry O'Connor and Gareth Hock also helped carry the coffin into the church where familiar faces appeared from all over the game, including representatives from every Yorkshire-based Super League club.

After hundreds of Wigan fans honoured their hero as the funeral cortege passed by the club's DW Stadium, hundreds more – many with jerseys emblazoned with Newton 9 – congregated outside the town centre church, applauding his entrance to the sound of Bob Dylan's Blowin in the Wind.

Past Bradford colleagues included captain Andy Lynch while former Leeds team-mates included more of that '99 side – Anthony Farrell, Francis Cummins, Darren Fleary and current Featherstone coach Daryl Powell.

The funeral was followed by a private burial for close family and friends. A full inquest into Newton's death will be held later this year. He leaves a wife, Stacey and daughters Millie and Charley-Mia.

Newton's career crumbled when, during pre-season training at final club Wakefield he became the first sportsman to test positive for human growth hormone and was handed a two-year suspension in March.