A former England international rugby league player who lived in Tyldesley has died at 45, his ex-club has announced.

Malcolm Alker, who played the entirety of his career at Salford Red Devils, spent 13 years at the club before being forced to retire through injury.

He made more than 360 appearances for Salford, captaining the club from the age of 21 while also making one appearance for Lancashire and earning two England caps.

In a statement, Salford Red Devils said: "It is with huge sadness that Salford Red Devils confirm the passing of former-Salford captain, Malcolm Alker. 

"Alker made 292 appearances for Salford between 1997 and 2010, spending his entire professional career with our club.

"Firstly named captain in 2000 at just 21 years-old, the hooker would eventually become Salford’s full-time captain.

"In addition to representing Lancashire in 2002, his performances for Salford throughout the 2000s eventually gained him international recognition, receiving a call up and pulling on an England shirt on two occasions.

"All our thoughts are with Malcolm’s family and friends at this difficult time."

After his retirement, Alker opened up to using recreational and performance enhancing drugs during his career in his autobiography titled 'The Devil Within'.

In 2018, he was jailed for four years for two armed robberies committed in Wigan at a KFC restaurant and Tesco Express while wielding a machete.