Rugby union convert Brad Howe has agreed a new contract with Cornwall RLFC for the 2023 Betfred League 1 season.
The 26-year-old joined the Choughs in June from Redruth after impressing in a trial period. He featured regularly towards the end of the club’s first professional season and caught the eye in both attack and defence.
And in a major coup for Cornwall and head coach Mike Abbott, the Truro born prop will be back to help spearhead the Choughs’ charge next term.
“I was bitten by the rugby league bug when I signed last season,” Howe told cornwallrlfc.co.uk. “I loved being part of the team and around a great group of boys. I’m excited at the prospect of what we can achieve and I 100 per cent want to be a part of that moving forward.
“It was a bit of a journey into the unknown for me to play rugby league and to play rugby league at this standard but I enjoyed it and know what parts of my game I need to work on to take it to the next level.
“Fitness was the biggest challenge for me personally but with a full pre-season behind us all, we will be ready to get stuck in early when the 2023 season starts.
“We will work hard when pre-season starts but I can’t wait to start carrying the ball hard up the middle. That will be my job and it is a perfect one for me and I hope it contributes to our results improving in 2023.
“We demonstrated last year that we can compete against the more established teams that have been around for years. For us to do that in year one is good but now it’s time to compete for more than just one half of a match and if we do that, we will bring more success to the club and the people of Cornwall, that I’m very proud to represent.”
Cornwall RLFC general manager John Beach, added: “Brad came across to us from rugby union and fitted in really well to the club environment and to the game of rugby league itself right from the start.
“As we all know, making the transition from one code to the other isn’t easy but Brad demonstrated his potential to excel on a rugby league field and we are delighted that he’s back for 2023.
“We are looking forward to seeing Brad kick on even more as a rugby league player and we truly believe that he is blazing a trail that other Cornish rugby players will follow as our club continues to establish itself in the Duchy.”
Picture courtesy of Patrick Tod