Leigh Centurions hopeful of Lachlan Lam quota boost thanks to junior background in Wigan
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:05 pm
Lam's time playing in England as a child could be about to help the Centurions!
Leigh Centurions are hopeful star half-back Lachlan Lam will not count on the overseas quota if they are promoted to Super League: thanks to his spell at amateur club Wigan St Patricks as a child. Leigh will have to make significant adjustments to their playing squad if they secure promotion from the Championship in order to comply with overseas quota regulations.
Super League clubs are only allowed seven overseas players in their squad at any one time, and the Centurions have had 14 contracted this season. They have already made plans to lose a number of those, with players such as Ata Hingano and Jy Hitchcox moving on to pastures new.
Lam is one of five contracted quota players as things stand. But with the club hopeful of keeping players such as John Asaita, Ben Nakubuwai and Kai O'Donnell - with the likes of Caleb Aekins also out of contract - it means they would have to lose at least one of their existing contracted quota players to comply with quota rulings.
However, they could be set to receive a significant boost on that front after Rugby League Live learned the Centurions have applied to the Rugby Football League to explore whether Lam's three seasons as a junior with one of the game's most storied amateur clubs effectively allows him to be regarded as homegrown, and therefore removed from their quota situation.
Lam lived in England until the age of eight while father and current Leigh coach Adrian played for Wigan. His first footings in the game as a junior were with St Pats, who have been responsible for producing some of the finest talent British rugby league has ever seen.
Leigh have formally applied to the RFL and are optimistic the request will be granted, Rugby League Live understands. The 24-year-old has made a big impression at the Centurions since joining midway through this season, and will play a key part in their Super League squad should they secure promotion.
And it now looks as though he will not be regarded as an overseas player - thanks to a spell in amateur rugby in Wigan over 15 years ago.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email
Leigh Centurions are hopeful star half-back Lachlan Lam will not count on the overseas quota if they are promoted to Super League: thanks to his spell at amateur club Wigan St Patricks as a child. Leigh will have to make significant adjustments to their playing squad if they secure promotion from the Championship in order to comply with overseas quota regulations.
Super League clubs are only allowed seven overseas players in their squad at any one time, and the Centurions have had 14 contracted this season. They have already made plans to lose a number of those, with players such as Ata Hingano and Jy Hitchcox moving on to pastures new.
Lam is one of five contracted quota players as things stand. But with the club hopeful of keeping players such as John Asaita, Ben Nakubuwai and Kai O'Donnell - with the likes of Caleb Aekins also out of contract - it means they would have to lose at least one of their existing contracted quota players to comply with quota rulings.
However, they could be set to receive a significant boost on that front after Rugby League Live learned the Centurions have applied to the Rugby Football League to explore whether Lam's three seasons as a junior with one of the game's most storied amateur clubs effectively allows him to be regarded as homegrown, and therefore removed from their quota situation.
Lam lived in England until the age of eight while father and current Leigh coach Adrian played for Wigan. His first footings in the game as a junior were with St Pats, who have been responsible for producing some of the finest talent British rugby league has ever seen.
Leigh have formally applied to the RFL and are optimistic the request will be granted, Rugby League Live understands. The 24-year-old has made a big impression at the Centurions since joining midway through this season, and will play a key part in their Super League squad should they secure promotion.
And it now looks as though he will not be regarded as an overseas player - thanks to a spell in amateur rugby in Wigan over 15 years ago.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email