Oldham announce Dudson signing

Oldham have signed Super League prop forward Gil Dudson on a two-year contract, with the giant Welshman arriving as the first big-name recruit ahead of the 2025 Betfred Championship season.

The 34-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Salford Red Devils from Warrington Wolves and will link up with his new Roughyeds team-mates in pre-season following the conclusion of the Super League play-offs. 

The former Wales international starred in the 2019 Grand Final for Salford and has had stints with Warrington, Catalans Dragons, Wigan and Widnes in the top tier of the British game. 

He joins an Oldham side promoted as League One champions and is the first statement signing from the club, with more promised in the next few weeks.

"I'm really excited, Oldham have absolutely killed it this year by winning the league three or four games early. I'm really looking forward to the move and getting involved with all the lads," Dudson told Roughyeds TV.

"I'm enjoying myself in Super League and had opportunities to stay there but once I had met with (managing director) Mike Ford and Longy (head coach Sean Long) they sold me the vision on Oldham. 

"I started off playing in League One with South Wales Scorpions, that was my entrance into rugby league.

"There was something that excited me about the opportunity of coming down and helping grow and build something in this journey that they want to go on - I want to be a part of that."

Dudson becomes the first of a series of exciting signings set to be announced by the Roughyeds, and it was that desire for success that convinced him to make the move to Boundary Park. 

"The intent is clear in some of the other players who have signed and will be announced shortly - they are really good quality Super League players who could still be playing Super League, so I think we could be a bit of a force to be reckoned with next year and I'm really looking forward to that challenge," he said.

"I'll bring hard-nosed rugby, that's the way I have played my whole career.

"Honest, tough, hard-working and some leadership to bring some of the best out of the younger middles.

"I'm really looking to that mentor-type role. 

"So long as you are working hard, you are honest and are true to what the community is about, the fans here will get behind you and that is the way I was raised in the mining towns of south Wales. 

"I think the fans are going to have a really exciting year next year."

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