Leigh Leopards to land rising Championship star after impressive rise from amateur ranks
Exclusive: The Leopards have lined up another signing ahead of the 2025 season.
Leigh Leopards are set to sign one of the Championship’s rising youngsters as part of their 2025 recruitment drive. Rugby League Live understands Swinton Lions’ Andy Badrock is the latest player to have emerged on the club’s radar ahead of next season and will join Adrian Lam’s squad next year.
Badrock has successfully transitioned from the amateur game to the Championship over the last few years, joining Swinton for Leigh Miners Rangers ahead of the 2023 season. He enjoyed an excellent first season with Swinton, ending the campaign as the club’s highest try-scorer with seven in 25 appearances.
He was subsequently named the club’s young player of the year at the end of the campaign, and has continued to impress for the club this season, scoring five tries in eight Championship appearances this season.
That hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Leopards, who last year signed another player from Swinton in the shape of forward Louis Brogan. Badrock who is still only 23, has predominantly played at centre, but has also featured at back-row during the current campaign.
Leigh are set to go through a fair recruitment drive this year, with a number of high-earning players leaving the club at the end of the season. They are understood to have agreed a deal with David Armstrong and have tabled an offer for Leeds Rhinos’ back-rower, Rhyse Martin, in an attempt to secure him next year.
As for Swinton, Badrock’s Super League departure would add to the growing list of players to earn an opportunity in the top flight after playing for the club. Matty Ashton and Andy Ackers are two other players who previously play for the Lions before moving up the ranks.
Leave a Reply