Rugby: Hunte dismisses mass exodus to Union

Alan Hunte, the latest rugby league player to try his hand at rugby union, has talked down fears of a mass exodus to the 15-man game.

Hunte is preparing with his Warrington team-mates for Sunday's Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final against Bradford Bulls.

And he insists that his game improved following a close-season stint with Pontypridd.

The former St Helens favourite was once thought to have been a target for the Rugby Football Union and he said he would not rule out a switch.

But he does not believe that league is threatened by the increasing pulling power of the rival code.

"I don't think there will be a massive influx," he said.

"It's not something that rugby league should worry too much about.

"Over the next two or three years there may be a few more that give it a go or turn full-time.

"The games are so different and it's probably a lot harder to adapt to rugby union from league than it is to league from union but, if anybody fancies a go, it's really worthwhile because you can learn from each other."

Hunte, who won the last of his 15 Test caps against Australia in 1997, went to Pontypridd with the blessing of Warrington and said he benefited from the experience.

"It was very enjoyable," he said. "Apart from a couple of games when I was at college, it's something I'd not really tried.

"I went down hoping to learn as much as I could and it was a good experience. I learned a helluva lot and it will hopefully make me a better player in league.

"There are some similarities but a lot of differences as well. I played on the wing in the matches. It's a far more technical game and it would take a lot more training sessions to even contemplate playing in any other position.

"I'm glad I did it and, if in the future another opportunity arose, I would use the experience to my benefit. It's something in the future I wouldn't rule out."

Hunte's new-found confidence will be put to the ultimate test on Sunday when the Wolves take on cup holders Bradford in the second semi-final at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium.

The 30-year-old Hunte is likely to be firmly in the spotlight as the last line of defence following the loss of full-back Lee Penny with a broken thumb.