Ashurst and West inducted to Warriors Hall of Fame Copy
Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce that William ‘Bill’ Ashurst and Graeme West have both been inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame.
The duo were officially inducted at the Club’s Loch Lomond Legends Event at Robin Park Arena last Tuesday evening by Chairman, Professor Chris Brookes and Wigan Warriors Head Coach Matt Peet.
Bill Ashurst
Bill Ashurst was born in Ince, Wigan on 12th April 1948. He was educated initially at Bell Green Lane primary school and Rose Bridge Secondary Modern School. Although Ashurst had the opportunity to sign professional terms with Blackburn Rovers Football Club, it was his passion for Rugby League and his beloved Wigan that he signed for in August 1968.
A superb ball handling centre or second rower, Ashurst landed 146 goals and six field-goals, along with 74 tries, in 185 games across two spells at Wigan. He recorded 55 goals, six field-goals and 19 tries in 46 appearances for Penrith. He then added 15 goals, ten field-goals and five tries in 32 matches with 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).
The Warriors sadly learned of Bill’s passing in June 2022 and were privileged to award the Hall of Fame certificate on his behalf to his loving family.
Describing Ashurst, Matt Peet said: “Bill Ashurst is more than just a name in the annals of Wigan Warriors history. He is a symbol of grit, determination, and extraordinary talent.
“Beyond the statistics, it was Bill’s flair that endeared him to the Wigan faithful. His audacious plays, including his signature drop goals from ridiculous distances, left spectators in awe and opponents scrambling.”
He added:”Bill’s legacy, however, is more than just his statistics, trophies, or accolades. It’s the way he played the game — with passion, creativity, and a fearless drive to be the best. He represented everything Wigan stands for: hard work, loyalty, and excellence. It’s fitting that we honour him, not just as a player, but as a symbol of everything that makes our Club great.”
Graeme West
Graeme West was born on 5th December 1953 in the town of Hawera, New Zealand.
He made his Wigan debut playing in the second row on 21 November 1982 v Leeds at Headingley and went on to earn 11 honours with the Club including the 1985 Challenge Cup Final when he captained Wigan to victory at Wembley beating Hull by 28 points to 24 in a game that many to this day rate as perhaps the best Challenge Cup Final of all time.
West took over the coaching reins with 4 matches left to play in 1994 and by the end of those 4 games he had secured the Premiership and a World Club Challenge Trophy beating Brisbane Broncos in their own backyard at the ANZ Stadium on 1 June 1994.
At the end of his first full season, 1994-95, Graeme West and Wigan won the League Championship, Challenge Cup, Regal Trophy and Premiership Trophy – the ‘Grand Slam’ of all 4 major trophies available – the first time the Club achieved this feat.
In total under Graeme West’s leadership, he and Wigan won a total of 11 trophies if you include the Middlesex sevens in 1996, they accumulated 3 Premierships, 2 Regal Trophies, 2 Championships including the Centenary Championship in 1995-96, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 World Club Challenge and 1 Charity Shield.
Head Coach Matt Peet said: “Graeme may not have grown up in the Rugby League heartlands of Wigan, but by the time he retired, his name had become synonymous with this Club.
“A versatile and powerful forward, West had the ability to play both in the front row and the back row, making him an invaluable asset to any team he played for. It wasn’t just his physicality, though, that made him stand out. Graeme’s intelligence on the field, his work ethic, and his calm leadership quickly made him a fan favourite and earned him the respect of his teammates.”
Peet added: “He came to Wigan from the other side of the world, and in doing so, became an integral part of this Club’s identity. Whether on the field or in the coaches box, Graeme gave everything he had to ensure the success of Wigan, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
Ashurst and West are now part of the Club’s illustrious Hall of Fame joining Andy Farrell OBE, Shaun Edwards OBE, Dean Bell, Ellery Hanley MBE, Andy Gregory, Eric Ashton MBE, Billy Boston MBE, Brian McTigue, Ken Gee, Joe Egan, Jim Sullivan, Frano Botica, Colin Clarke, Martin Offiah MBE, Sean O’Loughlin OBE, Kris Radlinski MBE and Victoria Molyneux on the decorated list.