03 February 2023 , 19:44
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Kevin Sinfield's not the only ex-England rugby league captain aiming to make his mark in union on Saturday - Sean O’Loughlin’s debuting for Wigan RUFC!
There’ll be 82,000 people watching at Twickenham as new defence coach Sinfield, 42, takes England into battle against Scotland. But O’Loughlin, 40, plays in front of a few hundred after coming out of retirement with fellow Wigan Warriors assistant coach Thomas Leuluai, 37, for the town’s rugby union club.
The Lancashire & Cheshire Counties Two strugglers have snapped up the famous duo in time to face leaders Eccles. But O’Loughlin - who starts at centre alongside his long-term buddy - had been trying to keep it all quiet. Asked if he’d gone to brother-in-law Andy Farrell, the Ireland RU coach, for advice or nephew England captain Owen Farrell, he replied: “No. I’ve not even told my missus I’m playing!
“I’ve got some family who play at Wigan - more around the vets age - and my lad George has played with them so I’ve spent quite a bit of time at the union club. It’s right near my house and I go down every now and again to watch. I got asked if I fancy a game and I thought ‘why not?’ Tommy was keen as well so we’re doing it. We've not trained. We’re just going to rock up and have a go. It was only a couple of days ago we confirmed it. And now I’m getting phone calls!”
Loose forward O’Loughlin played more than 450 games for Wigan, winning four Super League Grand Finals, and replaced Sinfield as England captain after the 2013 World Cup. He retired in 2020 while hard-hitting Kiwi scrum-half Leuluai finished last year after over 300 appearances for the Cherry and Whites. O’Loughlin added: “To get on the pitch with Tommy again will be quite fun.
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“But I don’t know if I’m inside or outside centre. I’ll be wherever there’s the least amount of running. I played union once or twice at school but haven't a clue what I’m doing and I don’t think we’ll be doing it week in, week out.
Wigan Warriors assistant coach Sean O'Loughlin (with Thomas Leuluai to his right) takes a video session in pre-season training (Vic Ashton/Wigan Warriors)“It won’t be anything too serious but we both live close so it’ll be nice to go down and represent the club for once as a different one-off. I initially got asked a while ago but it’s just never fitted in the calendar. In pre-season we’re busy on Saturday mornings. But because we’ve got a game this Sunday for Sam Powell’s testimonial, we’re off so it felt alright.”
Hooker Powell, 30, faces Salford at DW Stadium and O’Loughlin said: “He’s really deserving of this. Powelly's a kid who’s come through the Academy, earned his stripes and done everything well. He's had some setbacks with injuries and missed Grand Finals but worked hard and is now one of our senior players on and off the pitch. so it'll be great to see a big turnout for him."
New signings Jake Wardle and Toby King along with Super League's top tryscorer Bevan French and England stars Liam Farrell and Kai Pearce-Paul are all included in Wigan's squad.