Leeds rugby league club Hunslet sign 2 from Championship rivals including ex-St Helens, Wakefield Trinity man
Hunslet RLFC have signed two players from second-tier rivals North Wales Crusaders.
Welsh international prop Ant Walker made a try-scoring debut in last weekend’s 72-24 defeat at OIdham in the 1895 Cup and has now signed a permanent deal. He is joined at the Parksiders by his former Crusaders teammate centre/winger Jayden Hatton.
Hatton, 26, began his career at hometown side Widnes Vikings, making his breakthrough in 2019 when he scored nine tries in 14 appearances, played in the 1895 Cup final at Wembley and was named the club’s young player of the year. He had later spells with Swinton Lions and Featherstone Rovers and has crossed five times in eight games for Crusaders this year.
Walker, 34, played in Betfred Super League with St Helens and Wakefield Trinity before stints at Bradford Bulls, Widnes and Swinton. He has been capped 15 times by Wales.
Both players could feature in Sunday’s Championship game at Whitehaven. Coach Kyle Trout said: “I am delighted to confirm the permanent signing of both Jayden and Ant. Jayden is a strong addition on the edges who brings physical presence, dominant yardage carries, and a high level of skill.
“Ant has a wealth of experience and demonstrated last Sunday at Oldham the impact he brings with his physicality and ability to disrupt in contact. I’m looking forward to having both Jayden and Ant in our environment and seeing them thrive in our systems.”