The RFL today pays tribute to Syd Hynes - a back-to-back Wembley winner with Leeds Rhinos - following the announcement of his death at the age of 80.
Hynes earned representative honours for Yorkshire, England and Great Britain and was a try scorer in the third Test on the 1970 tour against Australia to help the Lions regain the Ashes Down Under.
To this day, he is considered one of Leeds most successful players and coaches having taken charge of the club from 1975 to 1981, guiding them to seven finals with a 100 per cent winning record, including back-to-back Wembley triumphs in 1977 and 1978. As a player, he featured 366 times for the Rhinos, scoring 843 points from 158 tries and 188 goals.
Born on July 31, 1944, Hynes played for Hunslet Juniors and the Leeds NALGO rugby union team before requesting a trial with the Loiners in 1964. He was signed after just four games for the second-string ‘A’ team and made his debut against Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue on April 19,1965.
Tony Sutton, the RFL Chief Executive, said:
“Syd Hynes had an extraordinary career as both a player and coach of Leeds Rhinos and of course he was part of that famous last team to defeat Australia in the Ashes. He will rightly be remembered as a legend for Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain.
“On behalf of the RFL we pay tribute to his dedication to the sport of Rugby League, for club and country – and send condolences to his family, friends, and Leeds Rhinos.”
Leeds Rhinos tribute to Syd Hynes included the following quote from Gary Hetherington, the club’s CEO and friend:
“It is a sad day for the club to have lost a legendary player, captain and coach, who was an incredible character. Our thoughts are with his two nieces and Syd’s many friends both here in England and over in Perth. We will pay tribute to Syd at our Boxing Day game, and we will also look to organise an event for his former club and country team mates and opponents to come together to celebrate his life in due course."
