Wigan Warriors hooker Amir Bourouh is heading out on loan.
League Express can reveal the youngster will spend time with Halifax during the 2021 campaign in order to get regular first-grade action.
Bourouh, 20, made three appearances for the Grand Finalists last year and impressed during his cameo appearances.
But the club’s acquisition of Jai Field has added more competition in the pivots, with the likes of Jackson Hastings, Thomas Leuluai and Harry Smith all set to be considered as interchanges for the club’s lead hooker Sam Powell.
That was set to limit playing opportunities for Bourouh and with reserve grade rugby suspended this season, and with him too old to play in the under 19s Academy, a move to the Championship will provide him with the best opportunity to secure regular game time in 2021.
Bourouh was spotted by Wigan while playing for Halifax-based amateur powerhouses Siddal, playing in an all-conquering junior side alongside the likes of Wigan team-mate Morgan Smithies, Leeds’ Tom Holroyd and Warrington halfback Riley Dean.
The hooker is off-contract at the end of the season and the club believes playing opportunities are crucial to his development, with a year in the Championship the perfect place for him to prove himself before they make a decision on his future later in the year.
Halifax have recruited a number of players from Super League ahead of 2021 including Hull KR’s Dan Murray, Hull FC halfback Liam Harris and Toronto duo Gadwin Springer and Greg Worthington.
He will work in tandem with Halifax’s current hooker Brandon Moore, who spent the end of last season with Huddersfield Giants and recently attracted interest from Salford Red Devils before they moved for Dec Patton.
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