Ex-Super League winger signs contract extension in player-coach role

One ex-Super League winger has signed a contract extension for the 2025 season albeit in a slightly different role.

Patrick Ah Van will head into his 20th season of professional rugby league after signing a new one-year deal with League One outfit North Wales Crusaders.

However, his latest contract sees the former Super League winger take on the role of player-coach with the 36-year-old seemingly looking ahead to the future and his post-playing career.

Ah Van is one of the iconic figures in rugby league, particularly in the northern hemisphere where he has been dominating on the wing ever since he made the switch to Super League in 2011.

First joining Bradford Bulls, he’d spend just one season at Odsal before moving to Widnes Vikings where he spent the bulk of his time in England. Ah Van made over 120 appearances for the Chemists, scoring an impressive 95 tries during his time there.

A move to North Wales would follow, where he has remained ever since barring a prolific 15-try season with Oldham in 2023. It’s now been confirmed that he will represent the Crusaders again in 2025 but this time in a player-coach capacity.

Former Super League flyer signs new one-year deal

North Wales announced Ah Van’s contract extension via their social media with the New Zealand-born winger confirmed to play on beyond his 37th birthday.

He has already surpassed the 150-try mark in the English game with 82 of those coming in Super League. He’ll look to reach 50 in League One this upcoming season with his current tally sitting at 42.

Announcing his deal, the Welsh club said: “North Wales Crusaders can confirm former Super League and NRL star Patrick Ah Van has signed a new contract with the club until the end of the 2025 season alongside taking up a role within Carl Forster’s back room team.

“The new deal for Ah Van shall see the former Samoan international remain with the club until the end of the 2025 season but also take on an additional coaching role with Carl Forster’s backroom team.”

On the news, head coach Carl Foster said: “It’s great to retain Pat, and his experience is so valuable in such a young squad.

“He really stepped up last season in terms of leadership off the field and performances on it.

“Pat joining the coaching staff will add more experience and knowledge across all departments of the game and will obviously benefit everyone involved.”

Ah Van has been confirmed to the staff alongside assistant coach Stuart Simmons who is head coach of England Lions Under 17s and team manager Simon Reynolds.

All three will work alongside Forster who will head up his first full season in charge and spoke on the staff that he has assembled, explaining: “I’m very fortunate to have such a strong group around me, all with their own strengths and experiences.

“The work they do for the club and the measure of the people they are has also been proven with appointments alongside their club role within the international setups for both Wales and England.

“Every player, staff member and supporter plays a vital part in taking this club forward, so I’m delighted to have secured my backroom team for the 2025 season and beyond.”