Fijian soldier Junior Vasuitoga given three-month pre-season trial at Castleford

Castleford are to give a three-month pre-season trial to Fijian winger Junior Vasuitoga, a serving soldier with 84 Medical Supply Squadron based in Hullavington near Chippenham.

The 26-year-old, who can also play centre and full-back, has played for the British Army and Sevens squads and says he wants to challenge himself at a professional level in either code.

“I want to go and get it”

“I said if its rugby league or rugby union, it doesn’t matter as long as it had that oval shape. I’d be happy with it,” he said.

“I started playing for the Army during my second phase of training, playing for the under-23s. Then I jumped into sevens.

“In 2018 I moved into the senior squad, so pretty much all of my time in the Army I’ve played rugby too.”

Vasuitoga, who will get a chance to catch the eye of new coach Lee Radford by playing in the Tigers’ pre-season friendlies, added: “The lads have been very helpful.

“There is a lot to take in but they are really helpful with everything, the coaching staff too. Any coaching drills I didn’t get right they’ve taught me how to do it, showing video.

“The pace of league and the pace of sevens is quite similar, it’s rapid, fast. I think I can get used to that.

“It is my sort of mission. When I got told I could come here I didn’t think of second chances, I want to go and get it.

“When I started knowing I would be on trial I began to prepare myself for these three months.

“I’ll be doing my best and hopefully, I will earn a contract at the end.”

Head coach Lee Radford on Junior Vasuitoga

Radford said: “The kid is an athlete. He has got a striker’s instinct, he knows where the ball is going to be at. Like so many Fijians, he looks like he’s built for rugby, a specimen, he’s very green.

“To get him in during pre-season is a fantastic opportunity for him. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to have a really good look at him and he’ll feature in our friendlies before we make a decision from there.”

Elsewhere in rugby league

Hull Kingston Rovers have announced that young half-back Mikey Lewis has signed a new four-year deal with the club.