Rugby League star Ratu Naulago to join unnamed 'south west' Premiership club

He is said to have agreed a deal to join a club 'in the south west' in order to be nearer to his family.

A statement on the club website read: "Hull FC have confirmed that Ratu Naulago will depart the club at the end of the season after agreeing a contract with a Premiership rugby union club.

"The winger signed his first professional rugby contract with the Black & Whites last season after a successful trial period, having been spotted playing for the British Army rugby union 7s team.

"Naulago’s current contract expires at the end of the season and he has made the difficult decision to return home closer to his family in the south-west, despite having the opportunity to stay at Hull FC."

The 28-year-old speedster leaves the Arlie Birds having scored a number of eye-catching tries for his first professional club, totalling 15 in 23 league matches.

He told hullfc.com: "I would like to thank Hull FC for the opportunity they gave me in professional rugby - I will always be thankful for that. I have loved my time here, everyone at the club has made me feel very welcome.

"I hadn't considered playing anywhere else in rugby league. I have too much respect for the club and for what they have done for me, so leaving for another Super League team was never an option.

"This opportunity in rugby union will allow me to move back home to my wife and close friends which is really important to me. It has been a very difficult decision but it is a new challenge I am really looking forward to.”

He continued: "I am fully committed to the club for the rest of this season when we do get back playing and I am determined to do my best for the team to finish on a high, it would be fantastic to try and win something with the club.

"I would also like to thank the Army for their continued support with my rugby career which I’m extremely grateful for."

England, who fast-tracked Burgess into their World Cup squad in defiance of logic, Bath and the player himself each shoulder varying degrees of blame for arguably the greatest cross-code flop in history. We're not saying he was an awful player, but the whole thing was a complete disaster.

He became the first player to represent Great Britain in Rugby League and England in Union. His move to union was part funded by the RFU, who were embarking on a strategy of converting some of leagues best talent. However, Mather struggled to make an impact with Sale and moved back to Castleford in 2000. In spite of his poor form with Sale, Clive Woodward gave Mather his debut against Wales in the famous Grand Slam decider in 1999. However, Mather never played for England again after Wales won the game 32-31, following Scott Gibbs’ superb try.

Following his cross-code switch, the Volcano’ stormed onto the scene for Gloucester, doing something ridiculous like scoring five tries on his debut against Leeds, before qualifying for England on residency grounds. International honours followed, with Vainikolo making his England debut against Wales in 2008. However, he failed to bring his try-scoring form to the international scene and was quickly dropped from Martin Johnston’s squad after winning five caps.

Tomkins began his League career with Wigan in 2005 and outside of a short stint with the Widnes Vikings in 2007, played with the Warriors until moving to Saracens in 2011. While Tomkins initially struggled to adapt to union, but his form during the beginning of the 2013/14 season saw him earn an England cap against Australia in November 2013. Although he went on to make two further international appearances, he looked completely out of his depth and returned to league soon after.