Former Hull KR and Castleford Tigers man leaves Championship club for new opportunity

Former France international Kevin Larroyer has left Championship club Halifax Panthers, the club has announced. Larroyer spent six seasons at The Shay, but he will move on this off-season to take up an opportunity elsewhere.

The 35-year-old, who counts Catalans Dragons, Hull KR, Castleford Tigers and Leigh as his former clubs, joined Fax in 2019 and in that time he has made 126 appearances and scored eight tries.

While Larroyer couldn’t lead the Panthers to league success in the Championship, he did help the club win the 1895 Cup at Wembley Stadium in 2023. The second-rower’s next move is yet to be announced.

“It’s a bag of mixed emotions at the moment”, Larroyer told the Halifax Panthers club website. “It’s official now that I’ll be leaving Halifax after six amazing years spent at the club.

“I have some really great memories, from the semi finals of the Challenge Cup against St Helens to some amazing wins in the derby against Bradford and obviously, the last one this year at home. And also, the trip to Wembley to win the 1895 Cup.

“But now it’s time to move on to take up a new challenge. I will keep just the best memories from my time at Halifax, where everyone at the club made me feel welcome, especially when I joined the club at a time in my career where my love for rugby league was going.

“It’s a very hard decision, very sad about it because obviously, Halifax is the club that I have represented the most in my career so yeah, I wish the club all the best. It’s hard to find the right words to say at this moment as I’m still processing that I won’t be wearing the white and blue shirt ever again.

“However, I want to wish the club all the best for the upcoming season and the seasons after that. Hopefully, I’ll be back at The Shay in other circumstances in the future. Thank you, all the best, and Au Revoir!”

CEO Damian Clayton added: “I want to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the club to Kevin Larroyer for his exceptional contributions over the past six years. Since joining us in 2019, Kev has been a genuine leader, known for his honesty, articulate feedback, and an unwavering passion that he brought to the team. His ability to offer insightful, constructive thoughts raised the standards within the squad and fostered a culture of openness and accountability.

“His commitment to the Panthers has been steadfast, marked by significant milestones such as his 100th appearance – a testament to both his consistency and fierce loyalty to our club. His influence has reached far beyond the pitch, inspiring both teammates and staff alike with his integrity and wholehearted dedication. As he moves on to new challenges, we wish Kev every success; he will always be a part of the Panthers family and welcomed here at The Shay.”