Peter Wackett

Contributing even more bulk in the forwards will be Kiwi lock Sam Woods, while a growing relationship with Leeds Carnegie has resulted in four of the Yorkshire side’s youngsters joining the club on loan.

At 6ft 6ins and over 19st, 28-year-old Woods should add not only size but also experience and an aggressive streak.

“Sam is a big, physical ball carrier as well as a quality lineout forward and we are looking to him to contribute a hard, physical edge,” said Tigers’ team manager, Geoff Roberts.

“He has a good rugby pedigree having represented New Zealand at Under 16and 19 levels; he has played for Auckland Under 21s as well as for North Harbour in the NPC and as a full time pro in Hong Kong.

“He was tipped to go all the way and become an All Black, but injury prevented him from achieving his goal, although he made a full recovery.

'He then took a year off to travel before coming to the UK to play for Orrell.'

Joining the club on loan from Leeds are: scrum-half Danny White (who featured for the Tigers as a replacement at Doncaster last season);winger Peter Wackett; lock Rob Anderson and back rower Andy Boyde. A fifth Leeds junior is also expected to make regular trips over the Pennines.

The club will not be stopping there, either. It hopes to announce next week the signing of a pacy winger from another Guinness Premiership club.

While the addition of Aled Rowlands will help out in a different way.Rowlands is a strength and conditioning ‘guru’ who worked last season with Doncaster.

The Knights wanted him to remain with them but he did not want to go full-time, as he is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and PE at Leeds Trinity and All Saints College.

He is undertaking a PhD in the use of accommodating resistance to improve maximal strength and rate of force development in rugby players.