CANES SIGN HAWKYARD UNTIL END OF THE SEASON
Veteran back returns to professional rugby league on short-term deal
We are pleased to confirm the signing of seasoned back Ritchie Hawkyard until the end of the 2025 season. Head Coach Mark Dunning has been ruing his luck this season with the number of half-backs lost to injury, and Ritchie’s signing provides some much-needed cover as the regular season comes to a close.
Hawkyard, 39, is a former Scottish international with just under 260 professional appearances at Super League, Championship and League One level under his belt. A product of the Bradford Bulls academy system, he made his Super League debut for the Bulls mid-way through the 2007 Super League season at the age of 21 against a Huddersfield Giants team that included one Eorl Crabtree as an interchange. He went on to make three appearances for the Bulls that season, scoring his first professional try during a 44-18 win over Harlequins (now London Broncos).
He then joined then League One side Swinton Lions for the 2008 season, where he went on to make no fewer than 168 appearances for the Lions - primarily at full-back or on the wing - between 2008 and 2015, scoring 49 tries and kicking 53 goals as Swinton eventually battled back into the Championship. He then made the move to Keighley Cougars in 2016, where he went on to score 35 tries in 65 appearances across three seasons, primarily at full-back.
In 2019 he swapped Keighley for Oldham, where he continued his impressive try-scoring form with 12 tries in 22 appearances as the Yeds secured promotion to the Betfred Championship for the 2020 season with an 18-14 play-off victory over Newcastle Thunder. He initially rejoined the Cougars ahead of the 2020 season but announced his retirement before the season began, before going on to change his mind and play a single game ahead of the season being aborted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite having retired from the professional game in 2020 following leaving the Cougars a second time, Ritchie has continued playing (and previously coaching) rugby league with Huddersfield-based community side Newsome Panthers who compete in (and recently won) the Yorkshire Men’s League and featured in the First Round of the 2024 Challenge Cup after winning the Yorkshire Men’s League in 2023.
Head Coach Mark Dunning had this to say on signing Ritchie:
“It’s good to add Ritchie and his valuable experience to the squad as we enter such a pivotal point of the season.
It is no secret that we have had some terrible luck regarding injuries to our spine as of late and Ritchie brings a lot of versatility and know-how in this area. With just three games of the regular season to go, I’m hopeful his presence provides some much-needed stability as we look to secure that all important place in the Super 8s.”
Ritchie also spoke with CanesTV about joining the Canes, saying:
“I’m really excited about signing for the Hurricanes and getting stuck in with the boys as we enter the closing stages of the Betfred League One season.
I’m hopeful I can bring a bit of leadership and experience to the team as they continue to compete for a top 4 playoff spot.”
Ritchie goes straight into contention for this Sunday’s clash with his former club Keighley Cougars. We will be announcing Mark’s 21-man squad shortly after midday today.
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