Bradford Salem’s director of rugby Craig Busby has lost his courageous battle against cancer.

The 52-year-old, who coached current England supremo Stuart Lancaster at Headingley in their final season, died on Friday night at home surrounded by his family after suffering for three years with myeloma.

“Craig joined us in July, 2005 from Garforth, where he had been helping out an inexperienced coach who was a friend of his, but he is better known locally for his time at West Leeds prior to that,” said Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk.

“I have never known anyone show as much courage as ‘Buzzer’ but his battle had its ups and downs.

“You would not have known there was anything wrong with him when we played Leos earlier this season but against West Leeds and Sheffield Medicals more recently he looked frail and was in a wheelchair but still gave us pre-match and half-time team talks.”