St Helens Rugby League Club, a storied name in the Super League, has confirmed a significant shake-up in its roster, with a trio of promising young players set to depart at the close of the 2025 season. The club announced on September 15, 2025, that Will Roberts, Dayon Sambou, and Jonny Vaughan will be leaving, marking the end of their journeys with the Saints and the start of new chapters elsewhere in rugby league.
This announcement comes hot on the heels of news that James Bell and Joe Batchelor will also exit St Helens, both destined for Hull FC for the 2026 campaign and beyond. But it’s the futures of Sambou and Vaughan that have drawn particular attention, as both 20-year-olds are set to join fierce rivals Wigan Warriors next season, according to All Out Rugby League. The move is a notable development in the ongoing rivalry between two of rugby league’s most iconic clubs.
Sambou and Vaughan are not just any departing players. Both came through the Saints’ youth ranks, forging a partnership that saw them clinch the 2023 academy title together. Their ascent through the club’s system culminated in first-team promotions for the 2024 season, and both quickly made their marks. Sambou, a winger, made his Super League debut in March 2025, scoring a try against Warrington Wolves at the Totally Wicked Stadium—a dream start for any young player. He went on to make five further senior appearances through the season, gaining valuable experience and even spending a spell with Halifax Panthers in the Championship.
Vaughan, capable of playing back-row or centre, got his first taste of Super League action in 2024 against Castleford Tigers. For the 2025 season, he was loaned to Salford Red Devils, a move aimed at giving him more game time and exposure at the top level. Unfortunately, his campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury in June—a tough break for the young player, but one that hasn’t dampened the interest of Wigan Warriors, who clearly see his potential.
Will Roberts, the third member of the departing trio, has had a different path. Although he didn’t make a first-team appearance for St Helens, the 20-year-old half-back gained valuable experience on loan with several clubs, including Swinton Lions, Rochdale Hornets, and Widnes Vikings. While his time at Saints has been more about development than first-team glory, Roberts now faces the chance to carve out a bigger role elsewhere.
St Helens, in a statement, wished the trio well, saying, "Best of luck to Will, Dayon and Jonny, and go well with your next steps." The club’s message underscores a sense of pride in their development and a recognition that, sometimes, the best way for young talent to blossom is to seek new challenges.
The departures of Sambou and Vaughan to Wigan Warriors add a fresh layer to the storied rivalry between the two clubs. It’s not every day that two homegrown talents make the leap across the divide, and their progress will no doubt be closely watched by fans on both sides. For St Helens, it’s a bittersweet moment—losing players they’ve nurtured, yet seeing them advance to bigger stages within the sport.
The news of these departures comes amid broader changes in the rugby league landscape, with clubs across the Super League and beyond constantly seeking to balance youth development with the demands of top-level competition. For St Helens, the exits of Roberts, Sambou, and Vaughan, alongside Bell and Batchelor, mark a phase of renewal, with opportunities opening up for other young players to step forward and make their mark.
Meanwhile, the world of rugby league coaching has seen its own headline-grabbing news. On September 16, 2025, Wigan Warriors icon Pat Richards was announced as the new head coach of the Western Suburbs Harold Matthews side (Under-17s) in the NRL, as reported by Wigan Today. Richards, now 43, is no stranger to success on both sides of the globe. He famously won an NRL Premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005 and was named Super League’s Man of Steel in 2010 during his illustrious spell with Wigan.
Richards’ playing career is the stuff of legend for Wigan fans. Over eight seasons with the Warriors, from 2006 to 2013, he scored 168 tries and kicked 896 goals in 224 appearances. His contributions helped Wigan to two Super League titles, two League Leaders’ Shields, and two Challenge Cups, cementing his status as one of the club’s greatest overseas signings. Richards also represented Ireland in two Rugby League World Cups, honoring his family heritage, and finished his career with Catalans Dragons in 2016 after stints in the NRL with Parramatta Eels and the Tigers.
Richards will be assisted by another well-known name, John Skandalis, who brings his own wealth of experience from both the NRL and Super League. The coaching staff for the Western Suburbs Harold Matthews side also includes Roy Asotasi, a former New Zealand and Samoa international and NRL Premiership winner, who will lead the Balmain Tigers SG Ball setup. Asotasi’s coaching team features Tim Moltzen, who will work with the halves and outside-backs, and Andrew Kazzi, a former Lebanon international who steps up as head coach for Balmain’s Harold Matthews side after serving as an assistant in 2025.
Both Kazzi and Richards will also play roles in the Wests Tigers Cubs programme, an initiative designed to connect the club’s multiple catchments and help young players transition to the next phase of their rugby league development. This focus on nurturing talent mirrors the approach seen at St Helens and other top clubs, highlighting the importance of strong youth pathways in sustaining success at the highest levels of the sport.
For Wigan Warriors, the appointment of Richards is a nod to the value of experience and legacy. His deep understanding of the game and proven track record as both a player and mentor make him an ideal figure to guide the next generation of rugby league stars. The hope is that his influence will help shape the club’s future, just as his performances once inspired fans and teammates alike.
As the 2025 season draws to a close, the rugby league world is reminded that change is a constant. Whether it’s young players moving on in search of new opportunities or legends like Pat Richards stepping into coaching roles, the sport continues to evolve. For clubs like St Helens and Wigan Warriors, the challenge is to honor their traditions while embracing the future—one promising player, and one new coach, at a time.
