Oliver Gildart appoints leading Australian agent to assess NRL options

Oliver Gildart has appointed an Australia-based agent – raising suggestions he may move to the NRL sooner rather than later.

By Phil Wilkinson

Published 27th May 2020, 08:12 BST- 2 min read

Updated 27th May 2020, 08:14 BST

Oliver Gildart training with Great Britain last autumn

The Test centre has signed up with Ultra Management, the firm run by Sam Ayoub – who represents both Wigan coach Adrian Lam and marquee halfback Jackson Hastings.

Gildart has never shied away from the fact he wants to test himself Down Under at some stage of his career.

He attracted interest from NRL clubs before signing his last deal with his hometown club, which runs until the end of 2021.

But the academy-product has revealed he has a buy-out clause, allowing him to leave later this year if a club pays an undisclosed, but pre-determined, amount.

Gildart is not angling for a move away but the appointment of Ayoub will allow him to assess his future options either later this year or during the last season of his current deal.

He said: “I’d been with my old agent a long time and I thought it was time for a change to freshen up.

“The NRL is definitely something I want to do at some stage and if anything comes about I’d look at it.

“I’ve always said I’d like to go there at some stage.

“There is a buy-out clause so I could leave (before 2021) if I get the opportunity, but we’ll see what happens.”

Gildart may only be 23 but he has already won two Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge, as well as representing both England and Great Britain.

He suffered a shoulder injury in the opening match of last autumn’s Lions tour, preventing him from playing any games this year before the season was halted.

His close friend Joe Burgess previously played at Sydney Roosters and Souths while pals Ryan Sutton, John Bateman and George Williams are at Canberra.