Two more of Workington Town’s promotion-winning squad have moved on for the 2022 season.
Hooker Declan O’Donnell has joined Championship rivals London Broncos while centre Calvin Wellington is staying in League One with Oldham.
Both players re-signed for Town ahead of the 2021 season after their proposed moves to a new Canadian club in Ottawa were scuppered by COVID.
Their contracts were declared null and void, and it has just been announced that the Ottawa club will now operate next season from Cornwall after re-locating to Britain.
The 25-year-old Wellington went through the ranks at St Helens, making a solitary first team appearance at Magic Weekend in 2016.
Welsh-born Wellington returned there to take up a contract with rugby union side Dragons in 2017. But he returned to rugby league two years later with Workington.
He was offered a new deal by Workington for 2022 but has decided to sign for Oldham due to commitments outside of the game.
Wellington said: “I prefer league as there’s a lot more involvement. Things didn’t work out for me at Dragons because of injuries and opportunity knocked for me at Workington Town so I went up there.
“It was great to be back in league and eventually to be part of the Town team that won promotion at the end of last season. But a lot of my time in Cumbria was affected by Covid.
“I feel I’m still finding my feet in league. I want to improve and learn as much as I can. One of the things that attracted me to Oldham was the opportunity to be coached by an ex-player who used to be a top centre (Stuart Littler).
“If Stu Littler can’t show me how to be a good centre, who can?
“The other attraction was a logistical one. I’m living now with my partner Leah, an Irish girl, in Manchester and studying for a law degree at the Open University.
“Workington wanted me to go up to the Championship with them and had offered me a new deal for 2022. But, in the circumstances, my decision to opt for the Roughyeds was a no-brainer.
“I know I’ll be a division lower than Town, but it would be nice to win two promotions in two years.”
Oldham coach Stuart Littler said: “Calvin is an exciting signing and I’m looking forward to working with him.
“Things are looking good as far as our squad-building exercise is going. We still need a few more and I’m expecting another announcement over the weekend.”
London Broncos Head Coach Jermaine Coleman has added Ireland international hooker Declan O’Donnell to his squad for next season fresh from the player’s Promotion Final success with Workington Town.
The former Wigan Academy and Leigh Centurions player has agreed a two year deal with the Broncos and will join up with his team mates for pre-season on the back of a successful season in Cumbria which led to interest from several clubs.
Speaking to the Broncos website O’Donnell said: “Obviously leaving Workington after being with them for three years wasn’t an easy choice to make but I’m pretty sure all of the staff, fans and my teammates know that I have given everything I can to the club and town of Workington.
“It will be tough lining up against them next year but I am also really excited about it as I am sure they will be keen to get into me during the games we face each other in next year!”
O’Donnell has had several discussions with Head Coach Jermaine Coleman and is looking forward to his new adventure in the capital with the Broncos.
“It was a really big decision for me to sign for London, I think the main factors in signing were to take on a new challenge that excites me.
“I think I will bring a lot to the Club next year. Fans can expect me to never leave anything out on the pitch and will see straight away I am willing to do anything for the cause and for my teammates.”
Broncos coach Coleman said: “Dec is a player I have admired for a while now. He fits the mould of the type of player we are looking for. He is a good, honest, player who gives his everything every time he steps on the pitch.
“He’s a great character and creates the energy in the team that you need. On top of that he is also a very good player who understands the game, has a good skill set and is as tough as they come. I genuinely cannot wait to be working with him this year.”
Meanwhile it has been announced that rugby league will go to Cornwall for the first time after they were given the go ahead to play in League 1 in 2022.
Following Ottawa Aces decision to permanently relocate to the UK, Eric Perez has taken the ‘licence’ they purchased from Hemel Stags to the south west.
They will play at the 4,000-capacity home of Penryn RFC, the Memorial Ground.
Cornwall RLFC director, Colin Groves, said: “This is a landmark day in the history of Rugby League.
“For the first time in our sports history we are truly a national game. Cornwall is a place that was made for Rugby League and, finally, after 126 years, we are proud to bring one of the most exiting team sports on the planet here.
“There is no doubt in our minds that Cornwall has a tremendous talent pool and we will unearth many Cornish rugby league heroes.
“This is a club that represents all of Cornwall, a true regional club. We are buzzing at the prospect of building something special here.”
The coronavirus pandemic halted Ottawa’s plans to join the RFL league structure for 2021, after they had recruited a large portion of their squad.
They announced last week that the fall out from that required them to ditch plans to play in Canada, and instead relocate to the UK to compete.
RFL chairman, Simon Johnson, added: “The RFL Board have approved the club’s request to relocate as it takes the Betfred League One competition, and the sport of Rugby League, into a new area, which shares many of the characteristics of the traditional Rugby League heartlands in the north, and has a renowned passion for rugby.
“This is an exciting opportunity to take our great sport to a completely new audience in a beautiful part of the country, and for our clubs and supporters to embrace that.”
Cornwall will become the 11th side in League 1 for 2022, alongside: Coventry, Doncaster, Hunslet, Keighley, London Skolars, North Wales, Oldham, Rochdale, Swinton, West Wales.
