Stephen Prescott

Stephen Prescott MBE (26 December 1973 – 9 November 2013) was anEnglish international rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for both England and Ireland. His usual position was as a full-back.

Biography

Steve Prescott was born in St Helens, Lancashire, the son of Eric Prescott, a formidable forward with St Helens in the 1970s.

He played for St. Helens in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League, and for Hull (twice) and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Super League. He was regarded as a legend at both St. Helens and Hull, gaining the utmost respect for his time at both the clubs. Prescott played for St Helens at fullback in the 1996 Challenge Cup Final, scoring two tries in the first seventeen minutes and helping his team to a 40-32 victory. Prescott representedLancashire while at Hull, and was one of only four players to do so, they are;Ellis Clarkson, Bob Taylor, Dick Gemmell, and Steve Prescott.

After playing two internationals for England in 1996, Prescott changed his allegiance to Ireland in 1998, qualifying under the grandparent rule. Prescott represented Ireland at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Prescott also represented Lancashire in the Origin Series.

In September 2006, Prescott was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare form of cancer, and was told that he would not see his two children grow up; he was given months to live. He underwent an emergency operation in Basingstoke Hospital and a tumour was removed from his stomach.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to rugby league and charity.

Prescott died on 9 November 2013.