FORMER Wigan Warriors star Ben Flower is back in rugby union after completing a “special” move to Championship big guns Pontypool.

The Caerphilly-born 33-year-old recently announced his retirement from professional rugby following a career in league that saw him play for Celtic Crusaders, South Wales Scorpions, Wigan and Leigh Centurions.

During his time with Wigan between 2012 and 2020, Flower won three Super League titles, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge.

He featured in Wigan’s Grand Final-winning sides in 2016 and 2018 and played 17 times for Wales.

“I cannot wait to get to Pontypool Park and get stuck into training and playing my part in helping Pooler achieve its ambitions,” said Flower.

“I want to help the team in any way I can and, ultimately, I want to enjoy the remainder of my playing career because when you’re having fun, you play your best rugby.

“I’ve been really impressed with the professionalism of the club and I’m looking forward to being around a good group of lads.

“It’s going to be a great season and I’m looking forward to getting going and coming back home.

“It’s also really special for me to be joining the club because my uncle, Stephen Flower, played for Pontypool for several years throughout the 1980s, and to follow in his footsteps means a lot.

“When I walk up those steps for the first time on game day, it’s going to be a fantastic feeling knowing I’ll be representing this club.”

Having spent his formative years within Pontypool United’s youth set-up through to under-16s, Flower knows the Pontypool rugby landscape well.

When it became apparent that Flower was seeking to return home, Pooler head coach Leighton Jones knew it was a great opportunity to add yet more quality to his ranks.

Pontypool start the 2021-22 Championship season on November 13 when they host Maesteg Quins – it will be their first league fixture since March 2020 due to Covid-19.

On welcoming Flower to Pontypool Park, Jones said: “This is an excellent signing for Pontypool on many levels. Ben’s quality as a player speaks for itself.

“He is a formidable competitor who knows what is required to succeed at the highest level, time and time again.

“His experience will be a huge asset to us throughout what will be quite an unusual season. But that experience is also going to pay dividends on a wider scale.

“We pride ourselves on developing young talent at the club and Ben’s perspectives on the game will no doubt help improve our up-and-coming players, who will certainly learn a lot from such a seasoned professional.

“The business we’ve done throughout the pandemic to have retained such a strong nucleus and to also add the quality we have in key areas shows that we’re as ambitious as ever to keep bringing success to this club.

“We cannot control what the Welsh Rugby Union does and we have focussed on ourselves.

“We’re in a great position ahead of next season and we cannot wait to get started.”

There will be no promotion to the Premiership at the end of this season.