by Our Sports Desk

Shaun Wane yesterday admitted that he will be an avid watcher of the rugby union World Cup when it gets under way this weekend, in an attempt to find a few hidden gems for his Wigan side.

Wane will will focus his attention on the minnows for potential recruits, admitting that the big players won’t make the swap from union to league.

“I think some of the (big-name) players are out of our reach,” Wane said.

“If it’s Romania versus Canada, though, I’ll watch and, if I saw any players that would suit us, I’m very keen to go down that road.

“I take the goodness out of every game I see. I watch from a pure coaching point of view so I look to see if any of the players would fit us.”

The Pacific islands nations could be an especially rich source of talent.

St Helens snapped up Maurie Fa’asavalu and Dom Feaunati after they played for Samoa in the 2003 World Cup, with the former going on to win honours with Great Britain under Tony Smith.

Wigan have already spent up to their salary cap for 2016 but Wane says he would ask football manager Kris Radlinski to facilitate a new signing if his talent-spotting pays off.

“If somebody was available I would try if I thought he could make us better,” he said. “Somebody would have to be out — it’s a ruthless, professional sport, isn’t it? Rads would have to sort out all the detail.”

Wane is a keen watcher of most sports, including ice hockey, in an effort to unearth a hidden gem and he is happy to cast his net far and wide.

“I just think the Canadian nation play a physical sport so they’ve got the mentality to play rugby league,” he said. “The way the ice hockey lads rip into each other, I’d love to have a go at one of them.”

Wane offered trials to an American football player earlier this year after identifying his rugby league potential but any movement between those sports is likely to be the other way now following Jarryd Hayne’s success with the San Francisco 49ers.

“He’s not only playing, he’s killing it,” Wane said of the former Parramatta and Australia full-back.

“I did have a look at an American footballer this year but we couldn’t get him over at the right times.

“But I’m very keen to look at different sports. I think we’d be stupid to stop chancing our arm and trying different sports. It makes it exciting.”