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Cornwall RLFC add Leigh man to their ranks

Cornwall RLFC have announced the signing of utility player Jake Lloyd.

The 24-year-old was born in Leigh and spent most of his life in his home town before he moved to Cornwall during the summer of 2020.

Prior to swapping the North West for Carlyon Bay, near St Austell, Lloyd played his rugby league exclusively with Leigh Miners Rangers. Lloyd gained representative honours whilst with the National Conference League outfit. These included playing for both Lancashire and Great Britain at British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) level.

More recently, in 2021, Lloyd was part of the Cornwall county rugby league side who defeated their Devon counterparts 48-14 to retain the Martin Roddy MBE Trophy, in the single County of Origin game between the two rival counties.

“I’m made up because It’s crazy to think that when I came down here, I wasn’t expecting to be playing rugby league at all in any capacity,” Lloyd told cornwallrlfc.co.uk. “To sign a contract with Cornwall’s first professional rugby league squad is unbelievable.

“Circumstances change and the stars align – I was told that big things are coming and here we are today.”

Lloyd is fully aware of his versatility and how this will be of great benefit to the Choughs during their maiden Betfred League 1 season, with the likeable Lancastrian happy to play in any position.

“I know I am able to a job wherever I am put,” he added. “I’m not afraid to stick my hand up and say ‘I will fit in there’. Predominantly I have gone through the ages as a hooker and I’ve had little spells in the halves. But being able to play in a few positions will put in good stead for the season.”

After attending our open trial which was held in early January, Lloyd was offered an opportunity to further demonstrate what he has to offer during recent training sessions.

Over the course of this extended trial, Lloyd has impressed Cornwall’s head coach Neil Kelly who once again highlighted the importance of flexibility in Cornwall’s squad, over the course of a 20-game season.

“Jake has come in after impressing in an extended trial,” revealed the 2022 Super League Coach of the Year. “I see him a quiet achiever, but I can also really see him being able to do the job we want him to do.

“His utility across the pack will be invaluable for us. Building a squad of versatile players is a necessity for any coach at this level in this competition. We have a squad of players that will pick up injuries across the course of the season and there will be suspensions which inevitably will come our way.

“From one week to the next, we may have a hole in the team that needs to be filled. Jake will be just the type of utility player that can fill that hole.”

Meanwhile, Cornwall RLFC general manager Gareth Reid added: “Jake is another successful trialist who earned himself an opportunity with the club to show more of what he has to offer during pre-season and we are pleased to sign him to the squad for the upcoming campaign.  “He is a versatile player that can cover a number of positions in the forwards or backs and this will no doubt prove incredibly useful for the club throughout the season.”

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