Ricky Bibey's rugby league career including controversial transfer legal battle between Wigan Warriors and St Helens

Rugby league is in mourning following the shock passing of Ricky Bibey, aged 40. The Leigh-born prop-forward passed away while on holiday, with reports in Italy claiming he was found dead in a hotel in Florence on Saturday evening.

Bibey was found in his hotel room after staff alerted the police. He is reported to have arrived in the Italian city on Friday night with a 43-year-old woman, who is understood to be his partner.

He enjoyed a successful Super League career which saw him make over 200 appearances for five different clubs. It was with Wigan Warriors where he first made his name, making his debut in 2001 at the age of 19. But things didn't go smoothly at first. A week later, Bibey was sent-off in just his second professional appearance after a high tackle and the Warriors went on to lose the game to Salford Red Devils. Days after the defeat, the Wigan coach, Frank Endacott, was sacked.

Read more: Ex-rugby league star Ricky Bibey found dead in Italy hotel at 40 as tributes pour in

However, things picked up the year after. Bibey became a regular for the Warriors, playing 26 games and winning his first trophy as Wigan continued their dominance of the Challenge Cup with glory at the expense of St Helens. Bibey featured in the match, coming off the bench. His performances earned him a place in the England A team and he went on to make three appearances.

He fell out of favour in 2003 and, after a loan spell with hometown club Leigh, he made a controversial move across Billinge Hill to link up with Wigan's arch enemy, St Helens. It proved to be a controversial move, with Wigan demanding a transfer fee for the prop. An RFL tribunal determined that Saints had to pay an initial fee of £20,000 and a further £10,000