A RUGBY club are delighted that one of their former members has signed his first professional contract.

Hensingham Rugby League Club are pleased that Harvie Hill has signed his first professional contract with Wigan Warriors.

Harvie, son of former Hensingham, Oldham and Whitehaven player Howard, has been playing for Hensingham since his was just seven-years-old.

He has been very successful year in year out leading a team to winning a number of league titles and county championships.

When Hensingham drew away at Wigan St Pats in the U14s national cup Wigan Scouts were at the game looking for potential players, the standout player was Harvie.

From there he was invited down to talk to Wigan and impressed the team from day one. Since then he has gone on to be a key figure in a very strong, successful scholarship team for the last two years.

Chris Crowe, Harvie’s youth coach, said: “I have been involved in a lot of youth rugby during the last nine years from the national cup, the county tri-series between Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire and Harvie is the hardest working, most knowledgeable and talented lad I have ever seen or been involved with.

“The biggest credit I can give him is that he is at every single training session, he is the hardest working lad there and sets the standards.

“He gets the best out of every other lad he trains and plays with.

“Harvie and all his family are deeply involved with the club so from everyone at the club we wish him all the best for the next stage of his life.”

Harvie could be set to follow in the footsteps of fellow rugby players like Kyle Amor who have gone on to have success at the top of domestic rugby league after starting out the amateur game in Copeland.

Kyle started his career playing amateur Rugby league for Hensingham ARLFC. Impressing throughout the amateur circles as a youngster. He later signed for Whitehaven R.L.F.C.

Kyle began his career at home town club Whitehaven R.L.F.C. before he signed a full time contract with Leeds Rhinos. After failing to cement a first team spot at Leeds Rhinos he spent three seasons with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

He was announced as a St. Helens player in September 2013 for a fee of £50,000 and signing a four-year contract. St. Helens reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and Amor was selected to play as a starting prop forward in their 14-6 victory over the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.