Warrington plugged the gap caused by the sudden departure of Chris Sandow with the signing of England international Kevin Brown yesterday from Super League neighbours Widnes.

The Wolves have paid an undisclosed transfer fee for the 32-year-old former Wigan and Huddersfield stand-off, who will join them with immediate effect on a two-year deal.

Warrington head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith said: “I’m delighted and am really looking forward to working with Kevin full-time. I briefly worked with him in my time as national coach as he was in the train-on squad at one stage.

“After being in a situation where we had to recruit late we had a lot of interest from all parts of the world; when Kevin expressed a strong interest in joining us it was an exciting prospect.

“I think he’ll learn a whole lot through us and certainly the quality of person he is will add a whole lot to our team both on and off the field too.”

Brown, who was recalled to the England team for the recent Four Nations series after a six-year absence, will be seen as a safe pair of hands following the walk-out of Sandow, a player Smith admitted was a risky signing from Parramatta 18 months ago.

Brown, who was also wanted by his home-town club St Helens, is just three appearances short of 300 in Super League and has played some of the best rugby of his career in the last two years.

“Joining Warrington excites me,” he said. “I want to win trophies and Warrington is a club that gives me a great chance to do this.

“With a great stadium and a big fanbase I can’t wait to pull the jersey on. Being coached by Tony is something I’m really looking forward to and playing in such a talented squad is a dream. It’s all happened very quickly and I am going to enjoy meeting up with the team and training hard to earn their respect.

“I’d also like to thank Widnes and Denis Betts for the past four years; I’ve loved my time there and made some great friends. I will look back with some fond memories and hope the club does well in the future.”