Inquest into death of rugby star Terry Newton opened

Image caption, Terry Newton was serving a two-year doping ban

The inquest into the death of former rugby league player Terry Newton has been opened and adjourned.

The father-of-two, a former Great Britain international, was found hanged at his home in Wigan on 19 September.

Deputy Coroner Alan Walsh told Bolton Coroner's Court that his body could be released for funeral purposes.

The 31-year-old hooker was serving a two-year suspension after a positive test for a human growth hormone. His funeral will take place on 8 October.

In addition to the ban from the UK Anti-Doping Agency, Mr Newton was sacked by his club Wakefield when he tested positive for the banned substance in February.

At the time of his death he was running a pub with his father.

'Didn't do enough'

During his career played for Leeds, Wigan, his home town club, and Bradford. He represented Great Britain 15 times, scoring three tries, and also won five England caps.

A few days after his death outgoing Wakefield captain Jason Demetriou criticised how the Rugby Football League dealt with his case.

He told 大象传媒 Leeds: "The RFL offer counselling but it doesn't go far enough.

"I don't really know what the RFL offered Terry, but the word coming out sounds like they didn't do enough."

The inquest was formally adjourned and a provisional date of 20 December was set for the hearing to reopen.

The RFL described his death as a "great tragedy" but said "every registered rugby league player has access to counselling services if they want them and that Mr Newton "will have been reminded of that counselling service".