Wigan Warriors' Kris Radlinski, who has just signed a deal to stay with the Super League club, turned down a reported £1m plus deal that would have seen him line up for the Leicester Tigers in the Zurich Premiership this season.

Instead of following Jason Robinson and Henry Paul into the 15-man code and perhaps into the full England international side he accepted an improved five year contract with Wigan.

Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay told theDaily Mail, "When Kris told me who was involved and how much they were offering, I thought he was a goner. I was gobsmacked. The money staggered me because it would have been a sensational amount spread over a few years.

"I won't breach confidentiality by naming the club or sum. Suffice to say, it's cost us a fortune to keep him but it's still significantly less than he'd have earned had he gone to union. He prefers pies to caviar."

Wasps, London Irish and Harlequins also made bids but it was the Leicester deal that tempted the Great Britain fullback.

Lindsay added, "With Kris you have a player of exceptional pace, physical stature, balance-and vision who would have made a sensational full back for the England union team.

"We were offering everything we could. He just shook my hand and said, "it's a deal. I'm really thrilled. Everyone knows Clive Woodward has spoken to him and Kris wants to place on record that he was impressed by the professional way the RFU conducted itself and their courtesy. I don't mind admitting, they did get him rocking."

The Rugby League will contribute £38,000-a-year towards keeping Radlinski in the 13-man code.

Fran Cotton, the RFU's Club England sub-committee chairman, told the newspaper, "Robinson, Paul and Radlinski were the three we regarded as having the potential in league to make an impact on the World Cup. We've got two out of the three, which is not bad."