Eccleston joins Oldham from St Helens

Oldham have taken their 2018 squad list to sixteen with the recruitment of Dave Eccleston from St Helens.

“Dave has signed a one-year contract and we’re looking forward to having him on board,” said club chairman Chris Hamilton.

The 21-year-old winger joins the Roughyeds’ on the recommendation of Saints reserve-team boss Ian Talbot.

Head coach Naylor added: “Dave has been at Saints since he was a young kid so he will have good habits and a good attitude. 

“It’s been hard for him to break through at his home-town club because of all the talent they’ve got, so its time for him to move on, take a different route and seek an opportunity to play senior rugby week in and week out.

“He’s passed under the radar a little bit at Saints, but he’s a great prospect with loads of potential and it will be exciting to be working with young talent like that.”

The former Blackbrook player signed for Saints on scholarship when he was 15 and then signed reserve-team forms two years later.

He was part of the Saints academy side that won the championship and went through the season unbeaten in 2016, after which he signed a reserve-team contract.

He scored seven tries in 12 appearances for the Saints second team last season as well as playing for a spell on loan at North Wales Crusaders.

Eccleston revealed that former team-mate Dave Hewitt gave him the lowdown on the club.

“I know Dave Hewitt from our time together at Saints. We played together a few times even though he was in his second year of under-19s when I was in my first.” He said.

“Dave told me all about Oldham. He said it was a good club to join and then he sent me a text later to see if I had done it. He seemed as pleased as I was when I told him I had signed.

“He said there would be five of us travelling from St Helens so we’ll be able to pile into one car.”