Swinton bring in former Leigh and Widnes winger

Swinton Lions have announced the signing of former Leigh and Widnes winger Jayden Hatton ahead of the 2022 season.

Hatton came through the academy ranks at Widnes, and enjoyed a highly successful 2021 campaign. He then left the club to pursue a full-time opportunity at Leigh.

However, he left the club having not played a game for them, as other commitments meant he had to leave.

He will now go straight into the sqaud ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Keighley.

Speaking to the club website, Hatton said: “I am really pleased to have signed for Swinton because it is a great club. I really want to help the Lions get promoted back to the Championship and I believe the squad here is strong enough to do so. I’m raring to go and I can’t wait for my first game with the lads.”

Head Coach Allan Coleman added:  “It’s great to have got Jayden on board at Swinton. He was a player that we very much liked last year when he was at Widnes. He’s a very strong and powerful player and he will add lots of quality to our squad.”

Swinton also bring in half-back

The league one side have also announced the signing of half-back Owain Abel from NCL side Pilkington Recs on a month’s loan.

Abel is known is Head Coach Coleman, as the pair have worked as part of the England Community Lions setup at Under-23 level.

The 21-year-old also played for St Helens at Under-19s level. Abel was part of the side that reached the Academy Grand Final in 2019.

He also briefly played for Saints’ reserve team in 2020, until that competition was curtailed as a result of the pandemic. He ended up back at Pilkington Recs in 2021.

Abel was deployed in a number of positions, as Pilks reached the semi-finals of the revised NCL season. They were beaten by Wath Brow in their semi-final.

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