ERNIE Burke, believed to be the only York-born rugby league player to touch down against Australia at a professional level has died. He was 76.

Mr Burke was born and raised in the Walmgate area of the city and as a pupil at St George's RC School excelled at a number of sports, most notably rugby league, football and boxing.

At the age of 17, he joined the Royal Navy, serving on the Hunt class destroyer HMS Cotswold during the Second World War, and later representing the navy at football.

When the war finished, Mr Burke returned to York to play rugby league for the INL club, playing in the infamous 1947 Hospital Cup final against Heworth at Clarence Street.

A crowd of 3,000 spectators saw referee JP Hebblethwaite dismiss two players at the first scrum to hopefully quell an impending 'needle' match.

Mr Burke scored both INL tries from the left wing and, with one converted by Basil Roberts, INL took the trophy 8-7.

Selection for Yorkshire followed, then came an England cap against the French at Workington before he signed professional forms with Hull KR.

It was for Rovers where he scored the winning try against the 1948 touring Australians at Craven Park.

He leaves a sister, Kathleen, five children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mr Burke's funeral will take place at St George's Church, Walmgate, on Friday, at 11am.

Updated: 11:39 Thursday, May 09, 2002