Oldham snap up Leeds young gun Dupree

Twenty-year-old prop-forward Tyler Dupree has signed for Roughyeds on a one-year deal

Oldham have followed up the retention of long-serving Danny Langtree for two more years by announcing the capture of Leeds Rhinos' top young gun Tyler Dupree.

Said to be a "great prospect", 20-year-old prop-forward Dupree has signed for Roughyeds on a one-year deal, leaving several other Championship clubs disappointed to miss out.

"I knew immediately that Oldham was the club for me when I met Matt Diskin for a coffee. Everything he said fitted in with my thoughts on the game and my hopes and aspirations for the future," said Dupree.

Born and brought up in Halifax, he started with Siddall and then passed through the Halifax Elite Rugby Academy - a stepping stone into the pro game for lots of talented lads - and ended up, aged 16, on scholarship at Salford Red Devils.

Dupree takes up the story.

He said: "While at Salford, I had a couple of games at Halifax on loan. Rhinos then moved in and I went to Leeds as a third-year Academy lad.

"We reached the Academy Grand Final and I then signed first-team with Rhinos and went out on loan to Featherstone, then York, then Batley.

"I was out of contract this year and when I talked with Matt Diskin he made an immediate impression on me and convinced me that my best move was to sign for Oldham."

Dupree has played for Yorkshire Academy against the touring Australian Schoolboys and has also been involved with the England Performance Unit.

A delighted Diskin said of Dupree: "He's a very talented young prop who still has a bit of maturing to do as a front-row forward, but what a talent!

"With ability like that, he has the rugby world at his feet.

"We've had to face a lot of competition to get him and that says a lot about him and a lot about his potential.

"I've absolutely no doubt that if he works hard and applies himself at Oldham he will have every chance of returning to Super League in the not-too-distant future."

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