Wales No.8 Andy Powell is set to buck the trend of rugby league players moving to union by making the switch the other way.

Sale Sharks say Powell will be joining Wigan Warriors rugby league team from next season, making the powerful forward the most high-profile convert to the 13-man game since fellow Welshman Gareth Thomas moved to the Crusaders from Cardiff Blues in 2010.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “Andy won’t be with us next year. He’s signed for Wigan for three years.”

Powell won the last of his 23 Test caps for Wales in union in last year’s Six Nations, and toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009.