Troubled rugby ace died of an overdose

Ex-England man 'went off rails' after retiring

- ASHLEY PEMBERTON and ALAN WESTON

A FORMER England rugby league player died of a drug and alcohol overdose, an inquest heard.

Ex-Salford captain Malcolm Alker, 45, suffered depression after he retired in 2010 following a whole career spent playing for the Red Devils.

He also had a long-standing brain injury, thought to be the result of blows to the head, and a diagnosis with the onset of suspected dementia.

The dad of two worked as a bricklayer and HGV driver after retirement. In 2018, he was jailed for two cocainefuelled robberies at Tesco and KFC.