That's the chap.

Is he any good?

How do we know if he'll get in the Wales WC squad?

If he's a forward there's some stiff competition for a place.

I'm pro signing big name players from wales. I'm anti paying their wages so they can play for wigan. Is this completely true? Are the RFL funding this?

Im undecided how I feel about the RFL paying his wages. Sometimes they can't win, they are slated for the player drain from SL. Plenty of fans will be here moaning about the state of the game when' when/if Sam Tomkins joins union (which if he joins, the RFU will be paying a sum of his wages) yet nobody slates the RFU on here.

The RFL obviously wanted to boost the Wales squad and give then some positive Publicity ahead of the WC. However most RL fans would rather sacrifice that than any club getting any help/advantage from the RFL.

However i would much rather they helped him sign for the lower clubs rather than the current leaders. However Powell would probably only want to join a top SL club.

Of course it's all rumour if the RFL have paid some of his wages

It isn't mentioned in the article about the RFL paying anything. I think that is just a wind up by the OP.

If it were true, it would have to be signed off by the other Super League clubs, something I really can't see happening.

Bloody hell, Saddened is speaking sense! Are you sure you're feeling alright?

A few Super League chairmen, including Ian Lenagan, have been arguing for the last couple of years that the RFL should setup a side pot that is exempt from the cap to attract some of the top RU players. Wigan tried to sign Gareth Thomas a couple of years ago based on that premise. Crusaders also tried to sign Andy Powell a couple of years ago again on the premise that some of his wages was paid for by the RFL. It appears that finally the RFL have seen sense and Wigan have snapped up Andy Powell. The same will apply for all Super League clubs that can afford to do so.

This is a fantastic move for RL. We need to bring and keep the best players in our game. The RFL are finally supporting the big clubs, helping us to retain Sam Tomkins and now helping us bring an RU superstar to the game.

Well done Ian Lenagan and the RFL I say!

"Top" rugby union player?

IIRC he hasn't played for Wales since the golf buggy incident in 2010. He got shown the door by Wasps in 2011 (mutual consent my backside) after a drunken brawl outside a pub.

He's been fined already this season by Sale for abusive language and gestures towards supporters.

He's 32 years old, has a questionable temperament and a history of both unprofessional behaviour and shoulder reconstructions.

Frankly - and I know Wigan are desperate for some depth up front given their injuries at the minute - it's a hell of a stretch to imagine him breaking into their first team.

It's a long time since he played RL at Cardiff Demons, and there are no reserve games these days for him to get used to the game again. So unless they're planning on sending him straight out on loan somewhere I can't see where he's going to get a game.

Hope they play him v Leigh next week! Could do with a few missed tackles, profile to the game and extra bums on seats too.

Wow a 32 year old dck head. How has the game survived without him?

There are better things the RFL can do with the little money they have than give it to pro players. Particularly pro RU players.

If it was George North or Manu Tuilangi then fair enough, but this guy is 3 or 4 years past his prime and has been off the radar somewhat in RU for a while.

I do think the idea of having a pot for signing RU players would be a good idea, both to boost national sides and to raise the profile of the game in growth areas with well-known players.

Of players currently in the UK, I reckon that

Manu Tuilagi
Matt Banahan
George North
Alasdair Dickinson
Stuart Hogg
David Denton
Sean Lamont
Rory Lamont
Nikki Walker
Neil Best

would all make a good go of playing league.

You don't think that money would be better spent on development officers, community coaches, community clubs, coach and club education, and marketing?

There has to be both.