THEY were exciting times when The Wire dipped into the Welsh market 30 years ago to bring rugby union stars into the paid ranks of the 13-man game.

Scrum-half Kevin Ellis was the first to make the switch in June, 1990, soon to be followed by centre Allan Bateman and back-row forward Rowland Phillips, all at the age of 25.

This, coming a month after Warrington’s first Challenge Cup Final appearance for 15 years when they lost to Wigan at Wembley, was considered a bold but inspired move by the club’s chiefs, and supporters were drooling for the start of the 1990/91 season to see what the new recruits could bring to the table.

It was a growing trend at the time, and not without success, for Welsh talent to come north so that they could make a living out of their athletic prowess.

Jonathan Davies was the highest profile convert but alongside him at Widnes were John Devereux and Paul Moriarty, while St Helens had Jonathan Griffiths, Salford landed Adrian Hadley and Hull recruited Mark Jones.

Scott Gibbs’ switch to St Helens and Scott Quinnell’s arrival at Wigan came a couple of years later.

It was always going to take a little time for Ellis, Bateman and Phillips to settle into the new code, but not too long as within five months of their first season at Wilderspool they had winners’ medals in their back pockets.

All three were in Brian Johnson’s side that defeated Bradford 12-2 in the Regal Trophy Final at a sodden Headingley Stadium in Leeds on January 12, 1991.

It was the only medal they won in primrose and blue, but all three went on to gain international rugby league honours with Great Britain and Wales, whom they all represented in the 1995 World Cup.

All had infectious personalities around the place and, after being joined by a fourth Welsh hero at Wilderspool when Wire sensationally signed Davies from financially-troubled Widnes, they were part of a Warrington team pipped to the title by Wigan on points difference in the 1993/94 season.

Ellis’ long passing game made him a stand-out, while he also possessed a lethal burst of speed and bags of feisty energy as he worked tirelessly for the team. His kicking, in particular long-range, was an important asset to the side as well.

Fans on the terraces used to chant ‘Oooooooh Kevin Ellis, Oooooooh Kevin Ellis’.

Bateman, or Batman as many supporters christened him, was all class with his speed, sidesteps and swerves when carrying the ball, while he was smart and precise in creating opportunities for his winger. His defence was outstanding.

It took Phillips longer to find his way in rugby league, but this is usually the case with forwards. However, his ability to break the line with explosive speed and strength soon made him another crowd favourite, while his offloading skills became an important strike weapon when called on for the team too. But he still found it tough to break into Johnson’s team as often as his fellow countrymen.

Ellis, who had joined The Wire from Bridgend as a Wales B international, scored 35 tries in 123 appearances before departing for Workington Town in 1994.

Bateman, who made his Warrington debut on the bench alongside Ellis in a 26-9 home success against Rochdale Hornets on October 7, 1990, went over for 52 tries in 142 games before joining Cronulla Sharks in Australia in 1995.

When he had joined The Wire from Neath he had four Wales rugby union caps but extended that to 31 after returning to rugby union with Richmond and then Northampton following his two seasons Down Under.

Bateman’s Neath teammate Phillips had worn the national red shirt 10 times before joining Warrington, for whom he scored six tries in 50 appearances before heading to Workington with Ellis in 1994.


The current Warrington Wolves squad is unusual because it contains no players who were born in Wales.

No John Bevan, no Mike Nicholas, no Rhys Evans.

In the past 80 years, since 1940, Warrington have handed debuts to 33 players who were born in Wales.

How many can you name?

Don’t be fooled into picking Dennis Curling, the popular Welsh winger from the 1970s.

He was born in Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, grew up in Essex and only moved to Wales when he was 10. Once there, of course, he made up for lost time and in one match scored seven tries for Aberavon before signing for Warrington in 1972.

The answers will appear at a later date.

Take a bow anybody who can name 20, even after we've given you seven for free that are mentioned above.