Evans twins sign for Warrington Wolves

Coming from the rugby union heartlands of south Wales, 16-year-old twins Ben and Rhys would usually be expected to follow the well-trodden path of their predecessors.

Having attended Brynteg Comprehensive in Bridgend, the school that produced union stars Gavin Henson, Rob Howley, Dafydd James and the great JPR Williams, they had plenty of inspiration to draw on.

But, after being introduced to the opposite code under the guidance of former Warrington scrum half Kevin Ellis, who coached at Brynteg, the pair decided to buck the trend and this week signed academy contracts with Wolves.

The boys relocated from Bridgend to Warrington withy their family almost two years ago to sign up to the club’s scholarship scheme, also enrolling at Great Sankey High School and joining up with the Burtonwood Bulldogs amateur club.

They have not looked back and Rhys said: “It’s really pleasing to sign an academy contract with Warrington.

“It’s really pleasing to sign for Warrington. We’ve done a lot of work over the past two years since we’ve come up from Wales and that work’s paid off because we’ve got signed now and we’re looking forward to kicking on with the academy.

“We made the decision to move up here together. But it was definitely the right move because the training and development we’ve had up here has been far better and we’ve both improved as rugby players.”

Ben added: “We played rugby union for our school but one year we decided we’d try rugby league, just as a sport in the summer because there was no real sport in the summer.

“But then we got to the Powergen Champion Schools final with Brynteg, which was when we got noticed by (Wolves head of youth recruitment) Peter Farrell.

“At first we were coming up every month, just training to see how it was but then we decided if we were to continue, we’d have to move up here.

“It was a big chance and if we took it and it didn’t plan out we could at least say we tried.

“But if we didn’t take it, in 10 years time we could have been left thinking ‘what if?’ The brothers wowed Warrington scouts in the final of the Powergen Champion Schools year seven competition in 2005.

Ben, a second row or prop, won man of the match, while centre Rhys scored two tries as Brynteg beat Castleford High 40-4 ahead of the Challenge Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium.

And after they arrived at the club, mum Jane said they were quickly made to feel part of the Wolves family.

“It was their decision to move up here, they made it,” she said.

“I sort of coughed a little bit when they said because it was obviously a big thing for me to have to do but I didn’t pressure them in any way.

“As a parent, I thought ‘you’ve been a bit mad here’ but you look past that and see it as an opportunity.

“It’s a lively part of the world up here and it’s a chance not only to experience a different school and all of that but a different culture, a different way of living.

“There is life outside south Wales. It’s just a part of life development more than anything else.”

She added: “They made the decision this was what they wanted to do from a young age and they haven’t wavered from it.

“There was never any situation where they wouldn’t choose Warrington, even though there were other clubs interested. We’re part of the family and they’ve been very supportive.”

Initially, the sports mad twins had made an impression playing soccer and were enrolled in the Cardiff City academy between the age of seven and nine, Ben as a goalkeeper and Rhys as a centre half.

But rugby soon became their passion and in the absence of similar academy or development pathways in either code, Jane said it was never an option for them to remain in Wales.

Ironically, the pair have even been capped by England, both playing their part in the under 15s national side’s 10-6 win over Wales under 16s in Bridgend on Good Friday last year.

Jane added: “They played both codes, it was just a case of making a choice “But the development pathway is not available until 16 with union and there was nothing there in rugby league either.

“Obviously there is now because Celtic Crusaders have got their academy going and the local kids have got something to aspire to now.

“Maybe if that had all happened two or three years earlier we wouldn’t have come because it would’ve been there.

“But then it wasn’t an option.”