Andy Powell crosses codes at Wigan

Wigan have completed the signing of the British and Irish Lions forward Andy Powell and pledged to follow it with more recruits from rugby union over the coming years.

The 31-year-old Powell will take up a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Warriors from 1 June and is set to become a dual-code international by playing for Wales in the World Cup at the end of the season. Powell, who won the last of his 23 union caps for Wales in February 2012, is the highest-profile convert since Gareth Thomas joined Crusaders in 2010.

"I've never played it but I've always watched the game," Powell said. "It's not going to be easy but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to."