One of Barrow Raiders' brightest young talents could soon be unleashed into first-team rugby after powerful winger Adam Ford signed a new contract..

The 19-year-old Walney Central product will remain at Craven Park until the end of the 2020 season and has the option of taking up a further year.

Ford has just finished a brilliant season with the Raiders' under-19 team, scoring two tries in their AoC National Cup final thrashing of Wigan Warriors Foundation College last week, and looks more than ready to make the step up.

He's yet to make his competitive debut for Barrow, although he did play during their programme of pre-season games in January.

Rugby director Andy Gaffney said: "He didn’t look out of place whatsoever in those pre-season games. We always knew he had the ability and now he’s won his final with Furness Raiders, it’s probably just about the right time to get him in the professional ranks.

“He's a big lad and he’s athletic and fast, so he has all the things you would want from someone who plays at winger or centre.”

The timing of Ford joining the senior ranks couldn’t be better, with the Raiders’ squad currently ravaged by injuries and some members of it having to play through the pain barrier in recent games.

Gaffney said: “In the next few weeks we’ve got some bodies coming back. Martin Aspinwall could be back and a few other of those sort of key players that we’re missing in the dressing room that we need are getting close.

“Jarrad [Stack] could be back and Jordan Walne should be back, while Josh Johnson played with an injury at Halifax so hopefully after a couple of weeks’ break he’ll be right and that will make a big difference.”