David R. Stephenson (3 December 1958 – 14 March 2022)[5] was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He played club level rugby union for Fylde Rugby Club, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and at club level for Salford (two spells), Wigan, Leeds and Leigh, as a goal-kicking wing or centre.
Stephenson started his career as a rugby union player, and represented England at schoolboy level. He made his debut for Fylde RFC in 1977.[6] He switched to rugby league in 1979, joining Salford.
Wigan
Stephenson left Salford for Wigan in 1982 for a club record fee of £60,000. He won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1982 against Australia (2 matches).
Stephenson played right-centre, and scored 4-goals for all of Wigan's points in the 8–4 victory over Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 1987 World Club Challenge at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 7 October 1987,[15] played right-centre, and scored a goal in the 28–16 victory over Warrington in the 1987 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 11 October 1987.[16] In 1987 Stephenson also represented Great Britain against France, and Papua New Guinea.
Leeds
In January 1988, Stephenson was signed by Leeds for a fee of £75,000.[17]
Stephenson played left-centre and scored 6-goals, setting the most goals in a Yorkshire Cup Final record, in Leeds' 33–12 victory over Castleford in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final at Elland Road, Leeds, on Sunday 16 October 1988. While at Leeds he played for Great Britain in 1988 against France, Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand,[3] and he was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour.