Cully to stay on as player/coach for 2025

Veteran hooker extends contract to take on hybrid role

We are pleased to confirm that long-standing Canes hooker Chris Cullimore has agreed a one-year extension with the club that will see him become a player/coach for the 2025 season.

Cully, 31, first joined the Canes at the start of the 2020 season (which was eventually cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic) following short spells at Oxford, Halifax, Keighley Cougars and Hemel Stags. He re-signed for the 2021 season but departed the club to re-join Keighley for 2022. However, after agreeing a mutual release with the Cougars mid-way through the season he signed with the Canes once again and has remained ever since. Scoring 5 tries in 68 appearances, Cully currently sits 7th in the all-time Canes appearance charts (just behind fan favourite Liam Welham and now-retired second-row Kieran Sherratt).

Cully on re-signing with the Canes:

“As soon as Mark discussed the opportunity to stay with the club as a player-coach, my mind was made up.

Myself and my family love being part of the Hurricanes family and are looking forward to another successful year with the club. The visions and aspirations this club have for the future are exciting and something I want to be a part of and help deliver.

I’d like to thank Mark and Leigh for the faith they have shown in me and look forward to continuing working with them next season.”

Head Coach Mark Dunning on retaining Cully:

“We’re delighted to retain Cully and welcome him in to his new role with the club. 

He has been a very important part of our club for a number of years and along with others stepped in to a leadership position when the club were without a coaching staff which whetted his appetite for coaching.

He is a smart player who studies and analyses the game in detail and I’m looking forward to him joining the coaching staff whilst remaining available for selection as a player.

Cully is not the only player retention announcement we have for you this week, so make sure to keep up with our socials for more news! #DARETODREAM.