Ollie Partington on song with busy lockdown schedule

Ollie Partington is hoping to hit all the right notes during lockdown.
Ollie Partington goes over for a try against HuddersfieldOllie Partington goes over for a try against Huddersfield
Ollie Partington goes over for a try against Huddersfield

He is using the enforced lay-off to learn a new talent – playing the ukulele!

The hard-running prop has been practicising on the instrument in between regular fitness sessions at home and also continuing his plumbing course.

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Partington, 21, said: “I’ve been learning the ukulele, it’s been quite fun.

“One of my mates, Marcus Grimshaw, is into his music and plays the guitar so I thought I’d give it a go. I’ve got fat fingers so it’s been tough, but I’m getting there!

“I’ve also been doing a plumbing course since September.

“Obviously because of the lockdown we’ve not been able to go into college, but they’ve been sending work out, so that’s been keeping me busy.” Partington borrowed a Wattbike and some weights from Wigan’s Robin Park base before the lockdown, and has been keeping a rigid training schedule to ensure he doesn’t lose any fitness for when the season resumes.

His return will take longer than most, given he still has three games of a suspension still to serve.

But he is philosophical about the current crisis.

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“We all want to get back to training and playing but in saying that we all realise we’re doing it for a reason and there are more important things in life,” added the academy-graduate, who played his junior rugby at St Peter’s RC High and Orrell St James.

“My cousin had Covid-19, thankfully he’s back healthy now but it is a scary time and whatever needs to be done, we need to do.”

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