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Ex-Wakefield Trinity & Huddersfield Giants man locks in club for 2023 and takes on exciting new role

York RLFC have confirmed that experienced forward Danny Kirmond has signed a new deal with the Knights, signing for the 2023 season as player/Assistant Coach.

The former Wakefield Trinity man will step into a coaching role after the departure of Ben Cockayne from the Club and will assist new Head Coach Andrew Henderson in his first season in charge of the Knights.

Kirmond arrived at the Knights ahead of the 2021 campaign after close to two decades in Super League with Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity, the latter of whom he captained for a number of years.

His time with York has seen his leadership prove valuable to the development of the younger forwards in the pack and, in 2022, Kirmond helped the Knights to a first-ever Betfred Championship Play-Off victory after a sixth-placed finish in the regular season.

Now, the move into coaching – alongside his playing responsibilities – will see Kirmond embark on his first professional coaching role as the Knights look forward to a big season in 2023.

On signing his new deal and responsibilities, Kirmond said: “First of all, I’m delighted to have re-signed with the Knights. It’s a club that’s really going in the right direction and that’s been sold to me both within and around the club.

“It’s a place that I’ve really enjoyed playing my rugby in the last couple of years. I’ve really enjoyed working with Clint since he has come in and he’s got a great vision and awareness of the opportunity that the club has been presented with.

“He really sold that vision to me in the off-season and I wasn’t really too sure what I was going to do in 2023. Obviously I’ve had a lot happen in my personal life in the last four or five months and the club has been really good with me in that period.

“By that, I mean everyone at the club – Fordy before, Clint, the fans and the boys as well. That was the main reason for me staying, really, and I feel I needed to repay a bit of that faith and that loyalty.

“In sport, there isn’t a lot of loyalty that comes back the other way but York really showed me a lot of loyalty in that time. That’s something I really appreciated and to have the opportunity to stay for another year is something that I’m really excited about. I’m excited about the opportunity as a whole but also playing in this group and continuing the progress we’ve made in the last twelve months.

“I’ve had a few chats with Hendo now and the club has obviously been in great hands with Fordy for a long period of time. I think that he was presented with a really good opportunity that I think will work really well for him and I think that Clint has got a really good guy coming in in terms of Hendo.”

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