Tigers sign John Grant as winger on one-year deal: Rugby League update
Rugby League club, Wests Tigers, have signed former Eastwood winger, John Grant. The player has accepted the one year deal with the Tigers to play in the 2012 season. The deal marks Grant’s code switch from rugby union to rugby league and was announced on
July 22nd.
Grant graduated from St Ignatius College and joined professional rugby in 2009. He played in the Australian Rugby Sevens before joining the Australian Rugby Union. His uncle is James Grant, who played for the Balmain Tigers also as winger. Following in the
elder Grant’s footsteps, John also plays at winger but is capable of the centre as well as fullback position.
Previously, Grant was under contract with the rugby union side Eastwood. The player had played for New South Wales (NSW) Academy and the Junior Waratahs teams before making his way into the Eastwood line up.
In the 2010 season, Grant was seen in the Shute Shield tournament where the Eastwood team remained unbeaten thanks to outstanding performances by Grant. The Cup helped the team earn over 80 points at the end of the tournament.
The Shute Shield and Grant’s 22 tries in the tournament grabbed the attention of the Tiger’s management.
The player expressed his excitement about his new contract by saying, “I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in rugby union as it presented me with some great opportunities to develop my game...I'm now looking forward to the next chapter of my career in rugby
league.”
Stephen Humphreys, the Tiger’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is looking forward to seeing Grant as a winger for his team. He has appreciated the player’s talent, his playing tactics and his speed. He also says that Grant will appreciate joining players
like Lote Tuqiri, Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence in the back line.
Grant has also participated in the Gatorade Bolt competition of 2010. This competition searches for the fastest footballer from Australia. Grant completed the race in second position, beating players like Nathan Gardner, Jarryd Hayne, Ben Barba, Greg Inglis
and Josh Morris. However, he came in after Lachie Turner, who is a winger for the Wallabies.
Grant looks forward to playing at the position of winger for the Wests Tigers for the 2012 season. He has appreciated the club and its coach, Tim Sheens, as being instrumental in his move from rugby union to rugby league.
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