Lepori takes his Aussie chance

Richard Lepori: to play Down Under

SCOTT Naylor has confirmed Oldham RL Club’s number one shirt is up for grabs because Richard Lepori is leaving to play in Australia.

The 22-year-old full back, one of the Roughyeds’ star performers in 2013, has been heavily involved in pre-season training at Oldham for the past five weeks, but leaves on January 9 to join a club in Northern Queensland.

Said coach Naylor: “Saying farewell to ‘Lippy’ will be a huge loss, but we wish him well in his new venture and move on.”

Lepori, formerly with Salford and Castleford, leaves after only one season at Whitebank in which he quickly became a fans’ favourite and crowned an eye-catching campaign by twice representing Italy against Germany and Serbia.

He was disappointed when not selected for his country’s World Cup squad.

He will now play for Atherton Roosters, a club in the Tablelands region of northern Queensland, coached by former St Helens and London Broncos star Karl Hammond.

“They’ve got me a job in farming, so I’m facing a massive change in lifestyle,” said Lepori.

‘I’ve got a 12-month visa and I can extend it for another year. I’m going with an open mind. I might love it, I might not.

“Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: I’m going to sample something new while I’m still young and however it turns out I’ll definitely gain from the experience.”