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Warrington Wolves launch audacious bid to sign rugby union star Ellis Genge

Warrington Wolves are preparing to launch an audacious bid to sign England rugby union star Ellis Genge.

Warrington, who are coached by former cross-coder Sam Burgess, have approached Genge about making a stunning switch to Super League when his deal with Bristol Bears runs out.

Genge, who has played 58 Tests for his country, is one of the biggest names in the 15-man code.

A tough ball-carrier and physical specimen who weighs in at 18st 13lb and stands 6ft tall, the loosehead prop could feature in the front row or back row in rugby league.

Warrington, bankrolled by top music promoter Simon Moran, have a long history of enticing stars in rugby union to switch codes.

Ex-Northampton and England centre Luther Burrell spent a year with the Wolves after departing the Saints in 2019.

The 36-year-old played eight first-team games for Warrington before switching back to union with Newcastle Falcons in 2022.

Welsh dual code international Jonathan Davies made over 60 appearances for the Wolves in the mid-1990s.

Apart from Burgess, who played for Bath and England in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the Wolves also currently have Martin Gleeson on their coaching staff.

Gleeson worked as an attack coach for Wasps and for the England national team under Eddie Jones, and knows Genge well.

In 2023 Gleeson revealed on the Out of Your League podcast that the loosehead is keen to take up rugby league.

“Ellis Genge is a good lad, he loves his league,” Gleeson said.

“He is one of the few forwards that I’ve seen who loves his rugby league. He wants to play.

“I was speaking to Jon Clarke and he was actually meant to go up to Wigan for a couple of days and train with them.

“He loves it, he is desperate to play it.”

Warrington, who face St Helens at home in the Super League play-offs on 28 September, believe the physically imposing Genge possesses the natural attributes to be a success in the 13-player code should he make the switch.

i understands Warrington’s CEO Karl Fitzpatrick has built a relationship with Genge after meeting him at a celebrity fishing event in July.

Under Super League’s salary cap rules, the Bristol forward’s contract would not count towards Warrington’s total.

With the new talent pool dispensation, any deal for Genge would have a value of £0 in the first year of his contract and then at 50 per cent of his value in the second year.

The outspoken forward, who hails from England’s south-west, is widely considered one of the best loosehead props in rugby union.

Warrington and Genge have both been approached for comment.

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