Leigh Centurions are pleased to announce the signings of four talented young players to the professional ranks. 18-year-olds Jack Hansen and Jordan Hill will both feature in Sunday’s warm-up game against North Wales Crusaders at LSV (3pm) alongside the more experienced Jacque Peet, aged 20. Jack Hansen is the son of former Leigh favourite and Tonga-born prop Lee Hansen, who joined the club from Australian country side Orange United in 1991 and went on to make 65 appearances before going on to play for Widnes, Wigan, Swinton and Rochdale Hornets as well as representing Tonga in the 1995 World Cup. Lee continued to live in his adopted home-town of Leigh and Jack learnt his rugby at Leigh East, going on to earn Lancashire Under-19s and international honours as a halfback. Centurions Reserves Coach Paul Anderson has tracked his development and is delighted with his signing. “Jack is an excellent pivot player and reminds me of Rangi Chase,” he said. “He is a great kicker, has great footwork and skills and with Josh Ward going to Barrow on loan for the season should get an extended opportunity with the Reserves side this season.” Hill, also 18, is a hooker who has also graduated through the junior ranks at Leigh East and earned county and international honours. “He’s strong, got a good service from dummy half and is another top prospect,” says Anderson. “With Lewis Foster stepping up to the senior squad he will get plenty of game-time this year.” Peet was a regular for Swinton Lions in the Kingstone Press Championship in 2014 having been Under-19s Player of the Year for Warrington Wolves in 2013. “Jacque has backed himself by signing for Leigh,” Anderson explains. “He is already, at the age of 20 an experienced back-rower or core Championship player and was offered a deal at Swinton. But he has backed himself to come to Leigh. He saw a lot of us last year as he often came along to watch his good friend Chris Hankinson, who has now gone to Barrow on loan for the season and obviously liked what he saw.” The quartet is completed with the signing of 17-year-old fullback or winger Jake Knox, son of former Leigh forward Simon on a three-year contract. “Jake played at Leigh Miners and has bags of pace and skill,” Anderson says. “He has worked really hard in the off-season and has trained the house down. He won county honours at Under-17s and comes from good rugby stock and the coaching staff is delighted to get the opportunity to work with him.”
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:06:43 +0000
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