Wigan Warriors have confirmed both Josh Charnley and Dan Sarginson will leave the club at the end of the season.
Charnley, 24, will make the move to rugby union side Sale Sharks, while Sarginson has secured a deal with NRL side Gold Coast Titans.
Both players’ contracts expire at the end of the season and both have been rumoured with moves away from the Warriors for a long period of time. They will see out their contracts at Wigan before departing.
Charnley made his debut in 2010 and played a significant role in Wigan’s 2013 Challenge Cup and Grand Final winning season. After an indifferent 2015 he has scored seven tries in as many games this season.
22-year-old Sarginson joined Wigan from London Broncos for the 2014 season and made his international debut for England in the end-of-season Four Nations tournament. A hamstring injury brought his 2015 season to a halt early but Dan has since returned to the Wigan team in 2016 playing in all nine First Team games so far this season.
Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan revealed he did all he could to keep the two players, but both had decided on accepting new challenges.
“We offered Josh a new long-term contract that would put him up there with the biggest earners at the club but having won so much at Wigan, he feels that the time is right to take on a new challenge,” he said.
“After seeing Josh return to form this year after an indifferent 2015 season, we are naturally disappointed with his decision but would like to thank him for everything that he has done for the Wigan Club. His try-scoring record is impeccable and we hope that he can leave Wigan on a high at the end of the season.
“Having brought Dan Sarginson from London Broncos to Wigan and helped him improve as a player to the point where he played for the England national side, we are similarly disappointed that he has decided his future lies in Australia but understand the player’s view.
“We have tried on several occasions over the last two years to negotiate a new and improved contract with Dan and his agent but Dan has been open and clear throughout the process that he wanted to see out his contract at Wigan before then taking on another challenge in the NRL or in rugby union. Money has not at any stage been a sticking point and whilst we would prefer Dan to have stayed at Wigan, we understand the opportunities in Australia can have an attraction to a young player, particularly having reached international standard whilst at Wigan.”
Meanwhile, head coach Shaun Wane, who has played an instrumental part in the development of both players, admitted he was disappointed to see them leave.
“After seven years in Super League and in the Wigan First Team Josh has decided that he wants to do something different and we respect that. Having been involved with the Wigan Warriors first team since Josh made his debut in 2010 it is with a heavy heart that I will see him leave. Josh has made the difficult switch of wings look seamless this season and has been in good form after a full pre-season.
“Dan has improved greatly during his time at Wigan and we don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. We’re sad to see him leave. He’s worked hard to get back out on the field following surgery last year and has started the season well.”
