Leigh hand Barlow five-year full-time deal

Leigh have given forward Sam Barlow a five-year full-time contract.

Barlow, 26, has helped the Centurions to win the Championship League Leaders’ Shield in his first season at the club since joining from hometown side Halifax.

Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: “I am delighted to have finally secured Sam’s services for Leigh Centurions. He is a vital part of the jigsaw we are putting together for next season and beyond. This year he has been one of the best players, if not THE best player in the Kingstone Press Championship and he has a great future at the Club.

“It’s the longest deal we have done at the Club for many, many years and Paul Rowley believes that working with Sam full-time he can develop him into an even better player. Paul firmly believes Sam has the ability to become one of the best players in the game and I am looking forward to seeing him achieve that.”

Barlow represented Scotland at the 2013 World Cup, and has scored three tries in 22 appearances for Leigh this season, including one in the win over Featherstone last Friday which secured first place in the table.