Whitworth student signs professional rugby contract after being scouted at Mayfield

A year 10 student has already signed a professional rugby contract after being scouted when he was playing for Mayfield in Castleton.

Whitworth Community High School student 14-year-old Noah Wilde has been training at the Wigan Warriors Academy Rugby League Club since June.

Three months later he was delighted to be offered a contract and taken on professionally.

Wigan has a great reputation for encouraging youth into the sport and now Noah, who has played rugby from age 10, is waiting for his first game in the new year representing the U15s team.

Noah, from Whitworth, said: “I play loose forward for Mayfield, but they have said I should try all the different forward positions.

“As soon as school finishes on a Monday and Wednesday, I travel to Wigan where I train from 6pm to 8pm. Then on a Tuesday and Thursday, I go down to Mayfield where I train with the team.

“It is hard and it is a lot of effort because for four days of the week I do a full day at school and then a full night of training, but it is worth it.

“During the season, which ends this weekend, I will be playing matches too.”

Wigan is one of the top rugby teams and, when the next season starts in March, Noah will find himself facing the top youth players from St Helens, Leeds and other top flight clubs.

Rugby is a tough contact sport, but Noah is taller than most of his class and trains hard so he is prepared for knocks.

He said: “I have only had one injury in four to five years of playing, a fractured cheek bone from training and it meant I couldn’t see out of one eye, but it was gone in a couple of weeks.

“I like playing rugby and enjoy the game and like that the lads around you have got your back; it is good fun.

“My family are really behind me and my Head of PE Mr Cawley is always asking how I am doing.”

As well as assessing training, before agreeing to the professional contract the coaches also looked at Noah’s behaviour off the pitch and in school; for him that was a turning point.

He said: “I am doing alright in my studies at school and I am getting on with it. I just need to keep my head down in Year 10 now. My GCSEs are going okay; PE is my favourite subject.

“My ultimate goal is to get to play for Wigan’s first team, but that is going to be hard.”

Will Cawley, Noah's PE teacher at Whitworth High said: “This is such an outstanding achievement for him, to sign for such a prestigious team and we can’t wait to see where this takes him.”