Fylde coast rugby player's dream journey to Wigan Warriors and on to top Australian club Canberra Raiders

Harry Rushton hopes to make his Super League breakthrough with Wigan Warriors this year before heading to Australia

Wigan Warriors forward Harry Rushton has secured a dream move to Canberra Raiders on a three-year contract.

A star of the all-conquering Wigan Academy side, the 18-year-old back-rower featured in The Gazette last year after playing in every Warriors youth-team game of 2019, including their Grand Final victory over arch-rivals St Helens.

Harry, who would have sat his A-levels at Blackpool Sixth Form College this year but for the pandemic, is now focused on breaking into Wigan’s Super League team when the season restarts next month before making his big move to the Australian capital at the end of the year.

He told The Gazette: “It’s a big move and a life-changer but I didn’t have to think about it for too long.

“The Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is a legend of the game, who I have always admired.

“I know the coaching will be top-standard and the playing standard is great as well.

“I’ll be able to learn from experienced internationals, so it can only help my career.

“I played in every Academy game last season, when we won the Grand Final, and I knew a lot of Australian scouts were watching.

“I’m staying with Wigan for this season and hopefully I’ll get a few first-team games under my belt before I leave.

“ I played some reserve team games this year as a stepping stone and was 18th man for the first team when they played Salford before lockdown.”

Harry hopes to follow in the footsteps of Blackpool-born prop forward Joe Bullock, who took the Wigan team by storm at the start of last season.

Proud dad Andy Rushton, a former player himself, said of Harry’s move: “It’s been in the offing for quite a while. A number of Australian clubs have been looking at Harry playing in the Academy, and Canberra made a really good all-round offer and have given us assurances about Harry’s welfare.”

Wigan is a world-renowned hotbed of the 13-a-side game and Andy first took his son there as a six-year-old to join leading amateur club Wigan St Patrick’s.

Harry also played for the nearby Shevington Sharks before signing for Wigan Warriors.