Rigby’s new challenge

A THIRD Oldham RL new boy, Neil Rigby, has signed for Roughyeds in order to challenge himself in new surroundings.

After five years at St Helens and four at Swinton Lions, the 25-year-old second-row forward turned down an opportunity to go up with Swinton next year and play in the Co-operative Championship.

“I was in their plans,” he said, “But I was desperate for a change of scenery.

“I was in a comfort zone — comfortable in my surroundings and breezing along.

“Moving to Oldham, new club, new coach, new team-mates, will give me the kick up the backside I need.”

Rigby, reared on rugby in his home town of St Helens, forms a trio of Roughyeds’ new recruits for 2012 with prop Danny Heaton (30) and second-row man Paul Smith (34), who played in the Championship with Halifax last season.

This latest Oldham capture signed for Saints from amateurs Blackbrook when he was 16 and in the next few years passed through the Knowsley Road academy system alongside Gareth Langley and Craig Littler, who were later to join the Roughyeds.

He was named Lions’ man-of-steel in his first year at Swinton and in the following season both supporters and fellow players voted him their player of the year.

His 2011 campaign started well, but was later spoiled by injury.

Other clubs were courting him, including Rochdale, but Rigby said so many players had spoken highly to him about Oldham that his move to Whitebank was virtually nailed-on before he even spoke to chairman Chris Hamilton and coach Tony Benson.

Benson said he was delighted to have further strengthened his forwards with a player who “wants to come for the right reasons.”

“He’s tailor-made for the way we play,” said Benson. “He’s strong, pacy, good in defence. He has a good pass and he runs good lines.

“Furthermore, he played in a very good Swinton team. He will be a big addition to the squad.”

Roughyeds will release details of 2012 match-day and season-ticket prices tomorrow.


THE successors to dissolved Super League outfit Crusaders will be known as North Wales Crusaders after the name emerged top of an online poll, the consortium behind the new outfit have announced.
The Wrexham–based club are expected to get the nod at the Championships clubs’ meeting this week to compete in Championship One in 2012, setting up a north Wales v south Wales clash with the Neath–based Scorpions in the third tier.