Bulgaria-born Ethan Havard insists Wigan is home as he eyes double glory
THIS YEAR may be a case of Sofia, so good for Ethan Havard – but that is where the story ends.
For even though he was born in the Bulgarian capital and arrived in the UK via Bath, he feels Wigan through and through.
The young forward’s background always raises eyebrows – parents Kieron and Clare met while working in telecommunications and nursing in Saudi Arabia, they ended up having their first born in eastern Europe.
However, while many people are interested, he remembers none of it, although ‘Why Wigan?’ has been asked once or twice.
Havard, 21, said: “Mum and dad were working there at the time.
“When mum met dad, he already had a job out there, so she decide to go with him. They actually met in Saudi Arabia then moved back to England to Ireland then to Bulgaria.
“I’ve said to them, ‘After going to all these countries, you came back to Wigan?’
“We moved to the town when I was three-years-old, so I don’t remember anything of Sofia or Bath, all my memories are in Wigan.
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“My birthplace is definitely something people wouldn’t expect and while it’s probably an interesting fact about me, I’m English.
“To me, I’m Wigan through and through, just like my dad is.”
Wigan have second place in Super League and a home semi-final after a week off sorted, while Catalans are playing the kids.
Coach Matt Peet did his rotation at Hull KR on Monday and he feels Steve McNamara’s decision is down to the crazy scheduling of three games in eight days.
But it may have benefits in the long run, we may see a star of the future being blooded.
He said as he awaits the verdict of another specialist on Liam Farrell’s knee injury: “It’s a bit of common sense and planning really after the way they attacked last weekend.
“I can’t blame them for doing it. We took that opportunity on Monday and it’s just good planning on behalf of Catalans.
“Blooding youngsters is certainly an upside to it. There may be someone in their team we don’t know who’ll put their best foot forward, that’s one of their threats.
“But we just don’t mention them. It’s a case of concentrating on ourselves.”