PROP Greg Richards has joined Leigh to the end of November 2018, with the club having a further one year option.

The 2014 Grand Final winner, who has had limited chances this term, leaves with immediate effect.

Leigh Centurions Head Coach Neil Jukes said: "Greg has been at an elite club for a number of years and played a lot of games. He is going to bring good habits and plenty of experience, even though he has youth on his side.

"Greg has really bought into our vision and what we want to achieve at Leigh Centurions. He sees the opportunities that are in front of us but first of all wants to be part of achieving our goals of maintaining our Super League status.

"Greg will add competition and energy to the middles and he has shown he can do it at the highest level."

Leigh Centurions owner Derek Beaumont acknowledged the help of St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus and CEO Mike Rush in helping secure Richards' services.

Mr Beaumont said: "Greg is a big lad with a lot of experience for his age and will help stiffen up the middle, giving Jukesy a bit more to choose from. It was always my intention to add a middle with losing big Dayne (Weston) and this became even more necessary with the disciplinary charge given to Jamie (Acton).

"I would like to thank Eamonn and Mike of Saints for enabling this to happen and Greg's agent Dave Peet for seeing it through in a timely manner despite being on vacation. Greg's signing concludes the Club's business for this season and we will now lockdown and prepare for the middle 8s."

Richards, 22, hails from the village of Urswick near Ulverston and signed for St Helens Academy after emerging through the ranks of community club Barrow Island.

After playing for England under-18s at the age of 16 he made his Saints first team debut at Castleford in 2013 five days before his 18th birthday.

While still a teenager played in Saints' grand final victory over Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford in 2014. He has made a total of 73 appearances for the club, earning an excellent reputation for his ability, maturity, work-rate and commitment.

Richards has also furthered his experience with a loan spell at Rochdale Hornets in 2014 and has recently played for Sheffield Eagles on dual registration.