RISING TALENT MAIS SIGNS FOR WIGAN
13th September 2012, 15:25
A RISING teenage talent has been given the rugby chance of a lifetime and joined one of the country's biggest clubs. Cardiff-born Bradley Mais, 16, has signed an academy contract to play for mighty Wigan Warriors, who finished this year's Super League season on top of the table. Mais joins a growing group of Welshmen at the DW Stadium including four men - Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Rhys Pugsley and Rhodri Lloyd - who have been named in national coach Iestyn Harris' squad for Wales Test match against France and England in October. Mais, who captained the Wales Rugby Union Under-16s before switching codes to play League, is one of 12 new recruits to the Wigan academy. He is the latest talent to emerge from a partnership between Wigan, the Wales Rugby League and Neath-based Championships One outfit South Wales Scorpions. Mais is a second row or loose forward and Wigan hope he is the latest off the Welsh production line to sign up for them. Andy Coley, Wigan Warriors Wales RL Partnership Liaison Officer said: "I am really happy that Brad has chosen to sign for Wigan and make the huge commitment of moving north to live here. "Brad has great skills and physique and is exactly the reason we ventured into helping develop Wales' hotbed of talent. It shows that the partnership with Wales RL was well-conceived and, hopefully over the next few seasons, many more players will follow in Brad's footsteps." Mais will also have other company at the DW Stadium in the form of ex-Wales dual international, current Welsh national coach and Wigan assistant coach Iestyn Harris. Wales Rugby League general manager Mark Rowley said: "Through our partnership with Wigan, we are able to give players a genuine pathway to a major Super League club and we are delighted that another of our players has found his way up the ladder on his rugby league career.
"Brad will be watched by our own national coach while he is at Wigan and we are certain he will become a senior international in the years to come. For now, we offer our congratulations on signing for Wigan and wish him every good luck in his journey with such a famous club."
