McDonnell joins York on loan

Wigan Warriors can confirm that forward James McDonnell has joined Betfred Championship side York City Knights on an initial two-week loan deal.

Knights head coach, James Ford, has previously coached the 21-year-old, when McDonnell lined up in the back-row for England Academy in late 2018 when Ford was assistant coach and helped England to a series victory over the visiting Australia Schoolboys team.

The former Wigan St Judes ARLFC junior made his Betfred Super League debut for Wigan in September 2020 and arrives at York looking to get more first team minutes under his belt. During three years within Wigan’s Academy, McDonnell became a double Academy Grand Final winner, which included the 2019 season when he scored 19 tries in as many games.

Warriors head of youth, Darrell Goulding, said: “This is a great opportunity for James to get some valuable game time which he needs at this point of his career. York are a very ambitious club with a great set up and I’m sure James will enjoy his time there and further his development.”