Emotional Bevan French dedicates Challenge Cup win to his late mother
Bevan French (left) lifts the Challenge Cup with Wigan team-mate Liam Marshall (right) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Wigan winger Bevan French emotionally dedicated their Challenge Cup win to his late mother, whose wish it was for him to repay them for their support.
The 26-year-old returned home to Australia last year to care for his mother during her illness.
He missed the start of this season after being given further compassionate leave by the Wigan club following her death.
French says his mother encouraged him to return to Wigan and help them win silverware as a token of good-will for the club’s close support and faith during his difficult time.
Speaking after their 16-14 in over Huddersfield, French said: “It is emotional.
“Everyone in the squad spoke on a personal level about what a win would mean to them. They spoke about helping the club and the friendships and everything.
“A lot of them got deep and that (his mum) was it for me. The last 12 months have been a bit tough and I felt like today it all came down to this moment.
“I don’t know, it still doesn’t seem real. It’s crazy because my mum and I spoke about this sort of thing when she was still here.
“She wanted me to come back here and, I guess as a tribute in some kind of way, to bring some silverware to Wigan because of the way they supported me during that period.
“I spoke about it with my mum in the past 12 months and to finally come here and do it, in the way that we did it, I’m still soaking it all in.”
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Cup success still sinking in for Bevan French
The Warriors were behind for large parts of the final against the Giants. A try from French’s wing partner Liam Marshall in the 77th minute sealed the win for Matt Peet’s side.
He added: “Obviously I’m over the moon with it all, but at the moment it’s still sinking in.
“It’s crazy – the crowd, the atmosphere, the build-up; everything.
“And the way that we won too – just crazy.”
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