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                                                        LUCAS ONYANGO
 
A REAL flier -- and probably one of the fastest wingers outside Super League --- the Kenyan is looking forward to his second season in Oldham colours. Having joined the club in March, 2007, Lucas scored 18 tries in 23 outings for the Roughyeds that year and finished second to Adam Hughes, his centre, in the club's try-scoring charts.
 
This showman and fans' favourite, whose high-stepping style is sometimes reminiscent of Martin Offiah, did more than enough in his first season with the club to convince the powers-that-be that he should be retained and, sure enough, he was re-signed on a two-year-deal to cover 2008 and 2009.
 
He first handled the oval ball in rugby union in his native Kenya and he first came to England in the Kenyan RU sevens squad for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He liked it hre, returned to stay and played RU for Sale Sharks (briefly) and Manchester before switching codes to sign for Widnes Vikings in 2005.
 
Shortly before that, he represented Kenya in the 2005 Rugby World Sevens in the famous Hong Kong tournament.
 
Six tries in nine first-team outings for Widnes underlined his speed and finishing ability,but he seriously injured a knee at Batley and he was never to play for Widnes again. He returned to Union on regaining full fitness and he was playing for Leigh RU club -- and scoring tries, of course -- when Oldham persuaded him to try his luck at Boundary Park.
 
Several length-of-the-field efforts last season gave him "star" status among the Roughyeds faithful, who will perhaps be expecting even bigger things of him in 2008.
 
Said club official Chris Hamilton: "Lucas is a crowd favourtie, a try scorer and a finisher who should go superbly well outside Mick Nanyn. Lucas knows himself that he is still a bit raw, but he had a great first season with us and he demonstrated what terrific potential he has."