St Helenshooker Keiron Cunningham has turned his back on a massive cash deal from the Welsh Rugby Union to commit his future to Rugby League. Cunningham has confirmed he will stay at Saints for the next four years and his decision to stay in Rugby League is a boost to Great Britain coach David Waite in his attempt to win the Ashesseries againstAustralia in November.
St Helens football manager Eric Hughes also confirmed that the deal involved no central funding from the Rugby Football League.
The new deal will keep 25 year old Cunningham at Knowsley Road until the end 2005, after Saints turned down an offer of £500,000 for the man rated the best hooker in the world.
"I love playing for St Helens and I love playing Rugby League," said Cunningham.
Saints chief executive Malcolm Kay said: "We are ecstatic that Keiron has decided to stay at the Saints. The club has worked hard to keep him and Keiron has stated his wish to stay with the Saints. This is a huge day for Saints and a huge day for the game of Rugby League
Cunningham is the latest high-profile League player to turn his back on a cash-rich union offer.
Youngsters Chev Walker and Kevin Sinfield of Leeds, Hull's Richard Horne and Bradford's Leon Pryce, all targets for rugby union, have all signed extended contracts to remain with their clubs.
And Wigan's Paul Johnson has announced he is likely to re-sign for Wigan, despite a lucrative offer from union outfit Gloucester.
The centre wants to stay at Wigan, even if it means earning less money than was put on the table by the club which signed Henry Paul.
"I have been approached by Gloucester and seen them. They made me a very good four-year deal but I've turned them down," Johnson told the Wigan Evening Post .
"I hope to sign a new three-year deal with The Warriors this week. Wigan is my hometown club and I have always wanted to play for them.
" I know there is more money in union but my heart is in Rugby League and with Wigan."
But Iestyn Harris, the Leeds skipper currently sidelined through injury, is expected to confirm his long-predicted million pound deal to join the Welsh RU.
St Helens football manager Eric Hughes also confirmed that the deal involved no central funding from the Rugby Football League.
The new deal will keep 25 year old Cunningham at Knowsley Road until the end 2005, after Saints turned down an offer of £500,000 for the man rated the best hooker in the world.
"I love playing for St Helens and I love playing Rugby League," said Cunningham.
Saints chief executive Malcolm Kay said: "We are ecstatic that Keiron has decided to stay at the Saints. The club has worked hard to keep him and Keiron has stated his wish to stay with the Saints. This is a huge day for Saints and a huge day for the game of Rugby League
Cunningham is the latest high-profile League player to turn his back on a cash-rich union offer.
Youngsters Chev Walker and Kevin Sinfield of Leeds, Hull's Richard Horne and Bradford's Leon Pryce, all targets for rugby union, have all signed extended contracts to remain with their clubs.
And Wigan's Paul Johnson has announced he is likely to re-sign for Wigan, despite a lucrative offer from union outfit Gloucester.
The centre wants to stay at Wigan, even if it means earning less money than was put on the table by the club which signed Henry Paul.
"I have been approached by Gloucester and seen them. They made me a very good four-year deal but I've turned them down," Johnson told the Wigan Evening Post .
"I hope to sign a new three-year deal with The Warriors this week. Wigan is my hometown club and I have always wanted to play for them.
" I know there is more money in union but my heart is in Rugby League and with Wigan."
But Iestyn Harris, the Leeds skipper currently sidelined through injury, is expected to confirm his long-predicted million pound deal to join the Welsh RU.
