Cook Islands international Paul Ulberg has joined London Broncos for the 2022 Championship season.

The Championship is the second-tier competition organised by the Rugby Football League, the governing body for the sport in England. It consists of 14 teams, with promotion to the Super League and relegation to the third-tier competition, League 1.

According to Love Rugby League, the 26-year-old winger has joined the capital club on a one-year deal for the 2022 Championship season.

Auckland-born Ulberg, who won two caps for the Cook Islands – including scoring a hat-trick against South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers in 2019, will be hoping to have a big season for the Broncos so he can make the Cook Islands squad for the World Cup next year.

Cook Islands Rugby League president Charles Carlson said they were pleased to hear Ulberg had joined the London Broncos.

“He has played exceptionally well for the Cook Islands cementing his position on the wing for the World Nines and the World Cup qualifying against South Africa and USA,” Carlson said.

“We do have a number of players playing in the English Super league so that is a good preparation towards the World Cup 2022 in England.”

According to Love Rugby League, the London club said that they have beaten “several other clubs in the UK” for the signature of Ulberg, who most recently played for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.

Ulberg scored seven tries in 18 appearances for the Devils in 2021. In total, he has scored 26 tries in 60 games in the Queensland Cup.