FORMER Saints players Chris Joynt and Dave Lyon arrived at the Ukrainian border to help deliver items for those fleeing the war in the country.

The pair have been among a group who have transported 7.5-tonne vans filled with donations from generous residents.

The vehicles made the 1,000 mile-plus journey with the team behind the wheel made up of representatives from the Archdiocese of Liverpool, Wigan and Leigh College, Wigan Council and Greenmount Projects.

 

Former rugby league player Andy Coley and Greenmount managing director Mike Sharkey were also among the group who travelled out.

Chris Joynt, 50, became Saints' most successful captain by the time he hung up his boots in 2004.

He joined the Knowsley Road club in 1992 from Oldham, and made more than 380 appearances in the red vee.

He helped Saints become the first Super League champions in 1996, and lifted the trophy as captain after Grand Final wins in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

He was also part of Challenge Cup final successes in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2004 and scored in the World Club Challenge victory over Brisbane Broncos in 2001.

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Individually, he won the Harry Sunderland award twice, for man-of-the-match displays in the 1993 Premiership final against Wigan at Old Trafford and again in 2000 in a Grand Final triumph over the Warriors.

Joynt also scored Saints' inconic 'Wide to West' try which sealed a last-gasp win at Knowsley Road for Saints in a Super League play-off game against Bradford in 2000.

Meanwhile, Dave Lyon, 56, who is now Wigan Council’s assistant director for housing and environment, made 66 appearances for Saints between 1992 and 1996, featuring at fullback in the 1993 Premisership final win. 

He also played for Widnes and Warrington, earlier in his career.

The group made their way to the Ukrainian border with Poland over the past couple of days.

They arrived earlier today, Tuesday, March 29, and met the auxiliary bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sambir-Drohobych in Lviv, Gregory Komar.

St Helens Star: Dave Lyon unloading items which have been donated to help those who have fled Ukraine Pic: TwitterDave Lyon unloading items which have been donated to help those who have fled Ukraine Pic: Twitter

After the journey, Dave said on Twitter: “We made it.

“Bishop Gregory and his team on hand to receive and help transfer the aid to their support vehicles.

“Amazing team effort and a very satisfying feeling to know we are helping them provide some much needed aid to their men, women and children affected by the war.”

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