JOHNNY Rae, a vital component in Bradford Northern's successful reform years during the sixties, has died at the age of 79.

The Cumbrian loose forward joined the club from Oldham in 1964 and went on to make 132 appearances, scoring 40 tries and kicking nine goals, during a four-year spell at Odsal.

He was part of a formidable trio at the base of the scrum alongside Tommy Smailes and Dave Stockwell.

The biggest honour Johnny won at Bradford was the 1965 Yorkshire County Cup, featuring in the 17-8 victory over Hunslet at Headingley on October 16.

Also in that year, the number 13 made his one and only outing for Great Britain against New Zealand.

Johnny was forced to retire at the early age of 27 due to a knee injury.