Wigan Warriors' Jackson Hastings comments on report of Gloucester RU interest

The Australian-born playmaker has not ruled out a code switch at some stage of his career but says his focus is on playing well for Wigan.

League Express today reported the Premiership outfit are "keen to talk" to the reigning Steve Prescott Man of Steel about a move to the 15-a-side code.

Hastings is friends with Gloucester and ex-England fly-half Danny Cipriani, who he met when they were with their respective former clubs Salford and Sale Sharks, stablemates at the AJ Bell Stadium.

"It's the first I'd heard of it," said the Warriors halfback, who scored two tries in Sunday's 30-16 win against Hull KR.

"The funny thing is I got sent that article this morning, I sent it to Cips and he just cracked up because he doesn't know where it came from either.

"I've had no contact and I've not tried to reach out to anyone. I just want to play well for Wigan."

The 24-year-old, keen to battle his way into Shaun Wane's England squad for the Ashes series, has not ruled out a move to union down the track.

Today's article says Gloucester "are thought to be willing to pay Hastings significantly more money" than he earns at Wigan, where he has a marquee deal running until the end of 2021.

"If in a couple of years, when I'm off-contract, I want to have a crack at union, I'd look at it," said the former Sydney Roosters, Manly and Salford playmaker.

"I played rugby union as a kid, I love watching the international games and I'd be lying if I said playing that wouldn't be something I'd think about doing.

"If they're interested, I'd obviously listen, you'd never close the door on anyone. I'd happily see their plans to see if it was going to further me as an athlete, (but) I wouldn't go there to get more money like the article stated and I didn't really respect that, to be honest, because I don't play the game for money.

"I play to be the best athlete I can and to be good at something. If I went over there and got more money but couldn't play the game, what's the point? I've seen people do that before.

"I'm a pretty ambitious guy and if one day I was to go there I'd want to make sure everything was in line for me to me to be the best of my ability and hopefully get a crack at playing international at that sport, too.

"But at this stage I just want to play well for Wigan, win for Wigan, and if stuff like England comes on the back of it, it's an added bonus to hopefully winning a premiership."