Flower switches codes to union following rugby league retirement

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Three-time Super League winner Ben Flower has switched codes to rugby union following his retirement from rugby league.

Flower, 33, from Abertridwr has announced he is joining Pontypool RFC, who play in the WRU National Championship – the same league as Bargoed, Cross Keys and his former club Bedwas.

Flower, who was capped 17 times for Wales, started off in union where he played for Bedwas and Newport Gwent Dragons.

He also played for Wales at various youth levels in union.

However, he left Bedwas and switched codes to join the Crusaders in 2007. He played for the team during their first season in the Super League.

During his time at the Crusaders, he made his Wales debut and had a brief loan spell at South Wales Scorpions in 2010.

The following year, the former St Cenydd Comprehensive pupil left the Crusaders and joined Wigan Warriors, where he spent eight years of his career.

At Wigan, he won three Super League titles, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge title before his departure in 2020.

Injury curtailed his final season with Wigan and he left the club in November 2020, having made 184 appearances and scored 21 tries for the cherry and whites.

He went on to join Leigh Centurions but only made four appearances due to injury struggles.

By joining Pontypool, Flower is following in the footsteps of his uncle, Stephen Flower, who played for the club in the 1980s.

Flower said: “I cannot wait to get to Pontypool Park and to get stuck into training and playing my part in helping Pooler achieve its ambitions.

“I want to help the team in any way I can and ultimately, I want to enjoy the remainder of my playing career because when you’re having fun, you play your best rugby.

“I’ve been really impressed with the professionalism of the club and I’m looking forward to being around a good group of lads. It’s going to be a great season and I’m looking forward to getting going and coming back home.”

Flower said it “means a lot” to play for his uncle’s club and added: “When I walk up those steps for the first time on game day, it’s going to be a fantastic feeling knowing I’ll be representing this club.”