More than 2,000 mourners, including the entire England World Cup squad, attended the funeral of former England and Ireland international Steve Prescott.
While 1,000 packed into St Mary's Church in St Helens, many more lined the streets, braving the rain, to hear the 80-minute Mass and Homily from Canon Thomas Neylon relayed by speakers.
They broke into spontaneous applause at the arrival of the hearse, followed by Prescott's widow Linzi and sons Taylor, 12, and Koby, seven.
The mourners were then moved by a eulogy from Taylor, who said: "I'd like to say how proud I am of what my dad has achieved.
"I have got lots of great memories of the times we have had together. I will remember them forever.
"When I was five and my dad first became ill, I made him a promise to always do my best and to follow my dream of being a sportsman.
"I hope I can make him as proud of me as I am of him. Me and Koby will miss him but we will love him forever."
Prescott, a former player with St Helens, Wakefield and Hull, lost his seven-year battle with a rare form of stomach cancer on November 9 at the age of 39.
Despite his illness, he set up the Steve Prescott Foundation, raising almost £500,000 with a series of remarkable fund-raising activities, and was awarded the MBE in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to rugby league and charity.
The pallbearers included his brother Neil and former Great Britain internationals Paul Sculthorpe and Shaun Briscoe while England coach Steve McNamara and former St Helens team-mates Tommy Martyn, Chris Joynt, Steve Hall and Bernard Dwyer led the bidding prayers.
Also among the mourners were England captain Kevin Sinfield, former internationals Bobbie Goulding, Paul Newlove, Garry Schofield, Gary Connolly and Paul Dixon and St Helens chairman Eamon McManus, along with head coach Nathan Brown and captain Paul Wellens.
The game's governing body, the Rugby Football League, was represented by president David Oxley and chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer.
"The turn-out is testimony to Steve Prescott, a top man and a really great friend," said Goulding.
"I think I've seen people from every single club in rugby league."
The Mass was followed by a private committal at St Helens Crematorium.
