Player of the Match medal to honour Bill Ashurst
- Betfred World Club Challenge Player of the Match to receive the Betfred Bill Ashurst Medal.
- Ashurst played for both Wigan and Penrith in an illustrious career.
- Radlinski: “This is a gift for Bill’s family and friends, children and grandchildren.”
Wigan Warriors and Penrith Panthers are delighted to announce that the Player of the match in the upcoming Betfred World Club Challenge this weekend, will be awarded the Betfred Bill Ashurst Medal.
Ashurst, who could have joined Blackburn Rovers, played from 1968 to 1973 for Wigan before Penrith paid a transfer fee of £15,000 to take him to NSWRL where he played for three seasons. He then returned to Wigan for another season before another huge transfer fee of £18,000 was paid by Wakefield.
Bill Ashurst had a rare talent that helped him win three caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1971 against New Zealand, and in 1972 against France (2). Overall, he made 185 appearances, scoring 74 tries and 152 goals (including 6 drop goals) points 520 for Wigan. He played 50 (including the Amco Cup games) games for Penrith scoring 24 tries and 65 goals (including 6 drop goals) for 196 points.
It’s fitting that his name will be honoured in a match between the two Clubs he loved.
Commenting on the naming of the award, Wigan Chief Executive Kris Radlinski said: “Bill represented both Wigan Warriors and the Penrith Panthers with great distinction during his illustrious career, so it is only right that we pay tribute to him on this wonderful occasion.
“This is a gift for Bill’s family and friends, children and grandchildren, all who will be at the game on Saturday, so they remember just what a special man he was.“
