Wigan sign NRL flyer

Wigan have completed the signing of Parramatta Eels outside back Bevan French with immediate effect.

The 23-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at the DW stadium and will compete with the likes of Zak Hardaker, Joe Burgess and Dom Manfredi for a spot in the Warriors’ backline.

French is due to arrive in the UK on Wednesday and will be available for selection in the next couple of weeks.

“I feel honoured and very excited to have been afforded the opportunity to play for such a great club as Wigan,” he said. “I am very much looking forward to the challenge and moving forward I am confident that I can contribute to the future success of Wigan in Super League in the next couple of seasons.”

Wigan coach Adrian Lam added: “Bevan is an entertainer, a natural footballer who I have admired for some time. He will get people up from their seat and add even more attacking threat and flair to our game. Wer’e putting together a strong Wigan squad for 2020 with the announcements of our recent signings together with re-signing some of our brightest young players. The squad is in great health.”

The Indigenous All Stars representative took the NRL by storm in his rookie season in 2016, scoring 19 tries in 13 matches to become Parramatta’s top try scorer that year.

AWARD | The Eric Grothe Senior NRL Rookie of the Year goes to Bevan French! #KTMedal #blueandgold pic.twitter.com/4TQkk17JCJ

— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) September 15, 2016

He has, however, fallen down the pecking order at the Eels and has found game time hard to come by in 2019, and moves to Super League in the hope of reigniting his career.

Wigan Executive Director Kris Radlinski also commented: “Bevan is an exciting player and, once we were made aware of his availability, we moved quickly to secure his services. The opportunity has only arisen due to Taulima Tautai’s departure since we would not have had salary cap space to accommodate another player otherwise. Bevan can play every position in the backline through to the half-backs and we’re delighted to announce that he’ll be joining us for the remainder of the season and for another two years after 2019.”