Wigan Warriors have named three new signings to their squad for their first pre-season game of 2026.
Matt Peet’s side will travel to take on last year’s League One champions North Wales Crusaders with the clash set to go ahead on Saturday afternoon, however, it won’t be Peet leading the team. Instead, Reserves head coach John Duffy will head the team in North Wales.
It will mark the first of two pre-season friendlies for Wigan with the second one coming in early February at home to Hull FC, with that game serving as the testimonial for Warriors’ winger Liam Marshall.
This first match has seen a very youthful Wigan side named with Tiaki Chan among the most experienced player in the squad after his recent loan period with Salford Red Devils.
New signings Finn McMillan, Jonny Vaughan and Dayon Sambou are all named with the latter pair among the most-experienced in the squad in terms of Super League games under their belt.
Of the 21-man squad named to face North Wales, just 11 players were handed first-team squad numbers when Wigan made that announcement earlier in the week.
The youthful squad doesn’t even feature young star Jack Farrimond, who spent part of his off-season training with the England squad during the Ashes.
Wigan Warriors squad to face North Wales Crusdaers
Josh Cartwright, Tiaki Chan, Riley Dervan, Jaiden Drachenberg, Tom Forber, George Hirst, Noah Hodkinson, Taylor Kerr, Nathan Lowe, Lukas Mason, Kian McDermott, Finn McMillan, Shea O’Connor, Mike Porter, Jack Purtill, Kalum Rathbone, Dayon Sambou, Harlen Smith, Jonny Vaughan, Leo Wadsworth, Charlie Yeomans
📋 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀
Your 21-player Wigan Warriors Squad to travel to face North Wales Crusaders this Saturday afternoon!#WWRL pic.twitter.com/1bmIaInljL
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) January 8, 2026
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