Frank Foster, one of the greatest rugby league players ever to come out of West Cumbria, has died at the age of 79.

Foster, one of the hardest and most feared forwards in the game during the 1960s and 70s, passed away at St Georges Nursing Home on Friday.

Once described by Aussie legend Arthur Beetson as the toughest player he had ever come across, Foster played for hometown club Workington, Hull KR, Bradford, Barrow and Oldham.

He learned his trade with junior side Grasslot, where he soon made his mark and represented Great Britain at under-19 level.

Workington soon snapped up this bright star of the future and he played in a great pack of forwards that included Brian Edgar and the Martin brothers, Bill and Dennis.

However, after five seasons at Derwent Park, it was off to pastures new in 1965 when Hull KR paid a hefty fee of £6,500 for his services, where he teamed up with fellow West Cumbrian Bill Holliday.

Frank was soon appointed skipper and led Rovers to two Yorkshire Cup final victories in 1966 and 67. In his first season, he was named player of the year.

In 1967, he made his one and only Great Britain appearance alongside teammates Holliday and ‘Flash’ Flanagan against Australia at London’s White City in a game the hosts lost 11-7. Many in the game were amazed he only gained that one cap.

Onto Bradford was next for Frank, where he played with other legends Jim Mills and Tony Fisher, but after one season at Odsal he moved back north to Barrow, who also brought in his sparring partner from Workington ‘Spanky’ McFarland and George Crayston from Whitehaven. This trio made their debut at Salford and put the fear of God into many opposing teams.

Two years on, Frank was off to Oldham where he was highly rated before ending his playing career to take up the coaching role with Barrow from 1973 -83.

Frank built up a fine Barrow side that lured Union stars Ian Ball, Steve Tickle, Nigel French and Mark McJennet to Craven Park. Local stars came under the Foster banner in Derek Hadley, Eddie Syzmala, David Cairns and Andy Whittle.

Frank’s open style of rugby was well noted and in 1982 the great Aussie side dubbed Barrow as the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby league. He took Barrow up and down the divisions - to a Lancashire Cup semi-final and a losing John Player final (11-7 against Warrington) in 1981.

However, he was relieved of his duties early in the 1983 season and he moved up the coast to Whitehaven. Talk on the streets at the time was the board wanted to sack Frank but none had guts to approach him.

Within weeks of his departure and under the guidance of Tommy Dawes, Barrow beat a high flying Widnes side in the Lancashire cup final. Frank also represented Cumberland on several occasions.