Young hooker Connor Saunders has signed his first professional deal with Barrow Raiders ahead of the 2023 Betfred Championship season.
Since Under 10s level, Saunders has played the majority of his rugby with Ulverston.
In September 2021 he made a solitary appearance for West Wales Raiders, against Barrow, before being invited to train with the squad by head coach Paul Crarey.
Last June, he made his Raiders first team debut against Leigh Centurions, on dual-registration from Ulverston. He scored a try on debut and capped off a memorable afternoon by receiving the Man of the Match award.
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Saunders went on to make a further three appearances for the club in 2022, and he has now been rewarded with professional terms at the Raiders.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” he said. “A year ago, I did not expect to sign a contract with Barrow Raiders, so it’s a massive honour for me and my family.
“This is something that I’ve wanted since I was a little boy.
“I want to kick-start next year with a good pre-season, and then hopefully I’ll be fighting for the nine spot because next year I want to be in that team every week.”
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Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey said: “His decision making is good, and the boys said it was great to play with him as he was very smart.
“If there’s local talent in the area that can do a good job and will listen and develop, we’ll bring them in.
“He fits straight in. He’s very classy as a nine, he’s pretty quick and I think he’s got a big future ahead of him because his attitude is spot on.”
Director of rugby Andy Gaffney added: “Connor has really impressed us this season on dual-registration. He has put in a lot of hard work and has shown exactly what he is capable of.
“We are delighted to offer him a contract and see how far he can progress with us.”
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