TWO promising youth rugby players have secured scholarship contracts with a top Super League team.

In a major boost for local rugby league, Ashton Hetherington and Ollie Wright from Kells ARLFC have signed scholarships with Super League giants, Wigan Warriors.

The signings mark a significant step in the careers of the under 14s players, as they join one of the most successful and prestigious clubs in the sport.

Both Ashton and Ollie are described as ‘standout performers’ for Kells and caught the eye of Wigan's scouts, who identified the duo’s potential to progress within the Warriors’ highly regarded academy system.

The scholarship offers Hetherington and Wright the opportunity to further develop their skills under the guidance of top-level coaches, while also benefiting from the support and resources available at Wigan Warriors.

The club has a strong reputation for nurturing young talent, with several former academy players going on to achieve success at the senior level, both domestically and internationally.

Wigan Warriors’ Youth Development are ‘delighted’ to welcome Ashton and Ollie into the Warriors family. The club said both players had shown ‘exceptional talent’, and have the potential to grow within their system.

The news has been met with pride at Kells, where both players have been key members of their junior setup. The under 14s coach praised the hard work and dedication of the two boys, adding, "Ashton and Ollie are fantastic players and even better people. They have put in a huge amount of effort, and this is a just reward for their commitment. We're incredibly proud of them and excited to see where this opportunity with Wigan takes them."

This latest development is another milestone in the ongoing success of Kells ARLFC’s youth program, which continues to produce talented players capable of making the leap to professional clubs.

Hetherington and Wright now have the chance to follow in the footsteps of many Wigan Warriors greats including another local talent Harvey Hill, and their journey from grassroots rugby to the professional stage is only just beginning.