BEN Harrison’s Testimonial campaign is in full swing.

Celebrations to mark the forward’s 13 years of duty with Warrington Wolves started with a dinner at the Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall, while a match in his benefit – The Smooth Law Testimonial Game – will see The Wire face Huddersfield Giants at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, kick off 8pm.

Harrison, who has a partnership to raise funds for St Rocco’s Hospice and the Warrington Wolves Foundation during his Testimonial, says pre-orders are now being taken for shirts, balls and calendars at his shop 13bh.co.uk/store.

Harrison was brought to Wolves by club coach Gary Chambers, a fellow Cumbrian who also served The Wire with distinction as a player.

At that point, Harrison had only been involved in the sport seriously for around two years.

“I started playing when I was around 11 years old,” said the 28-year-old, who signed a first-team contract in 2004 and made his debut in the top flight two years later.

“My dad played rugby union so I’d go and watch him and play with other kids, but I didn’t really take up rugby properly until school. I had a run out with a local team and it spiralled from there.

“I had a bit of a size advantage for my age, so that helped.

“I was quite tall and had a bit of weight behind me, so that helped and inspired me to carry on and persist with it.

“There were levels of development that were set in place then by David Waite when he took over as Great Britain’s technical director – like service area, regional and national camps.

“I went through that system, and was lucky enough to get picked up at 13 by Warrington.

“Gary Chambers spotted me on one of the camps, asked me if I’d like to come down to Warrington and that was more fuel on the fire in terms of ambition and helping me to believe this is realistic and that I could do this maybe for a career.

“I kept working hard, stuck in at school and got my exams out of the way to put me in a position to come down and give it my all.”

n Harrison’s representative career as a junior: Cumbria from under 12s-16s; Lancashire under 17s-18s; England sides from u15s-18s; captained England Schools at under 16s.

* HOSPITALITY tickets are available in both the Platinum Lounge (£50) in the North Stand and the Martin Dawes Legends Lounge (£30) in the East Stand for the Smooth Law Testimonial Game between Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.

For enquiries and bookings, email info@13bh.co.uk.