Wigan takes in a Cook Islander

Cook Islands international rugby league player Anthony Gelling has signed on with English Super League club Wigan Warriors.

The 21-year old second-row player and centre touched down in the United Kingdom late last week in time to join his new teammates on their pre-season training camp in the US state of Florida.

Gelling, who was born in New Zealand, has family connections to the islands of Manihiki and Atiu.

He joins Wigan from the Auckland Vulcans, who play in the New South Wales Cup, and has previously played with the Sydney Roosters.

Gelling follows in the footsteps of fellow Cook Islands international Kevin Iro, who played for Wigan from 1987 to 1991.

Wigan coach Shaun Wane said Gelling now had the chance to make a name for himself at the club as Iro had.

He may be unknown to the rugby league public in the UK but some of English rugby leagues most successful imports have come over with similar reputations, Wane said in the Daily Mail.

Players like Kevin Iro, Henry Paul, Frano Botica and even George Carmont were little known over here but proved to be world-class acquisitions.

I know he has learned from his experience both at the Roosters and in New Zealand and comes to the club fully prepared to buy into the Wigan culture and establish himself as a first-team player.

Gelling, who arrived in Wigan last Thursday, has received a work permit, allowing him join up with his new teammates in time for their flight to America.

I am delighted to be here and am really looking forward to getting straight into training with my new teammates, he said.

It will be an honour to play for the world-famous Wigan club and Ive already heard about how passionate the Warriors supporters are.

Wigan is the most successful rugby league club in Britains history and is the current holder of the Challenge Cup, a knockout competition featuring 94 teams from the UK, France and the Federation of Russia.