Featherstone add Wakefield forward

Featherstone Rovers have announced the signing of prop Craig Kopczak from Super League side Wakefield Trinity.

 The former Wales captain joins Featherstone for the 2021 centenary season on a one-year deal.

The 33-year-old has been a consistent name within Super League and now joins Rovers after a career with Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants, Salford Red Devils and Wakefield Trinity in the topflight.

The club is currently awaiting a decision following their application to become Super League’s twelfth team, which if successful, would mean that Kopczak will continue to compete in the country’s elite division.

As well as in Super League, Kopczak established himself on the international stage, his first call-up to the Wales set-up came in 2007 and he scored his first international try against England in 2009.

Kopczak featured for the Dragons in the 2011 Four Nations and captained them in the 2013 World Cup, 2015 European Cup and 2017 World Cup Qualifiers before retiring from international rugby in 2018.

Rovers Head Coach James Webster said: “Craig brings us plenty of size and experience having played over 300 Super League games.

“Adding him has really strengthened competition for places in the middle of the pitch. With what we have seen this year in how coronavirus has affected the availability of players in Super League, having strength in depth in the middle positions was a vital area we needed to secure.”

Craig Kopczak added: “I’m over the moon to be here and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. It’s a big club and Webster is a great coach and there are some great players in the team.

“If the Super League application is successful that will be great, if not I can use my experience and leadership in the Championship to push for a Super League position through promotion in 2021.”