KENGA JOINS THE CANES FOR 2025

Experienced prop signs one-year deal

We are pleased to confirm that prop Jose Kenga has signed for the club until the end of the 2025 season following his release from Championship outfit Doncaster RLFC.

Kenga, 29, started his career at amateur outfit Hunslet Warriors before he entered the scholarship programme at Leeds Rhinos. Following his release from the Rhinos in 2011, Jose joined Sheffield Eagles and spent three seasons playing in their reserve grade before signing for then-Championship club Dewsbury Rams in 2015. Kenga would go on to make his professional debut on loan for the University of Gloucestershire All Golds before signing with Hunslet in late 2016, where he went on to make 14 appearances across two seasons.

The Congo-born prop went on to join Keighley Cougars for the 2018 season, making 12 appearances and scoring his first professional try, before signing for Swinton Lions ahead of the 2019 season. Jose spent four seasons with the Lions, but a combination of COVID and injuries limited him to 27 appearances plus a sole loan appearance for the Canes against his parent club during the 2022 season.

The veteran prop then joined Doncaster in 2023 where he went on to play 26 times across two seasons, scoring once, in addition to joining the Canes on loan where he made five appearances and featured in our key wins over Workington Town and Cornwall before helping us beat Workington for a third time in the Elimination Playoff at The Alex. Jose clearly enjoyed his time in the Midlands as he made the decision to join the Canes permanently (a decision we’re delighted with).

Head Coach Mark Dunning on signing Jose:

“We’re delighted to add Jose and his family to our squad and Canes family on a permanent basis.

Jose joined us on loan in search of game time and has fit in really well. His professionalism and attention to detail has been very good and with a good preseason under his belt we’re excited to see what more he can add to our game.”

Jose on agreeing a permanent deal:

“I’m really looking forward to next season with the Canes. The club ambitions are what has attracted me to sign a permanent contract.

Everything that is happening on and off the field is showing that the club is on the rise and I’m certainly on board to be part of that journey. It’s definitely great that I’ve had a spell on loan which means coming into pre-season I won’t have that new player feeling and I’ll be straight in there as part of the boys. 

We’re definitely going to go one better than this season and there’s a real excitement about that.”

Jose joins an impressive raft of new signings for 2025 alongside Aiden Roden, Ryan Johnson, Zeus Silk, Elliot Morris and Mikey Wood! There is still time for more retention and new signing news in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes focused on our socials.