Midlands Hurricanes have announced their second signing for 2026, as they look to build and get their squad in shape ahead of the expanded Championship competition next year.
The division’s upcoming revamp will see Championship and League One teams merged next year, in a bid to have a more linear and competitive league structure below Super League.
What this means is teams will have to be at their best more often in the bid to improve, and Midlands are certainly trying to do that, as this week they announced that veteran half-back, Danny Craven, will join the squad, as he heads into his 15th season as a rugby league player.
The 33-year-old most recently played for Sheffield Eagles, after joining them on a deal for half a year following his release from Oldham, where he had spent the previous two years.
Craven was instrumental in the side that won the Roughyeds promotion to the Championship, but found game time hard to come by in the second tier with Josh Drinkwater and Riley Dean being the first choice halves under Sean Long for the majority of the campaign.
Making his senior debut for Widnes Vikings as an 18-year-old in 2010, Craven was part of the squad that earned promotion to Super League in 2012, and stayed with them until their relegation in 2018. In fact, it wouldn’t be until the end of 2023 that Craven left the DCBL Stadium, as he became a Vikings icon – playing 188 games for the club, scoring 69 tries and kicking 43 goals.
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Speaking on his move to the Birmingham-based outfit, he said: “After meeting with Mark [Dunning] and talking through how he sees my role in the team as someone there to bring in some experience to a young side, I can safely say this is a role that I’m relishing.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sheffield and left the club on great terms, but now I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into a new challenge in a new environment. I can’t wait to get in and meet the coaches, staff and players and hopefully have a big 2026 on the field in front of the Hurricanes faithful!”
On his new recruit, coach Dunning added: “We’re delighted to welcome Danny and his family to the club as they all become part of the Canes family. When I met up with Danny it was clear he was excited about joining the journey that we’re on as a club and that he would add value.
“He’s been there, seen it and done it at both Half back and full back and his game management is something that we lacked at times this season. Danny also possesses a very strong kicking and running game which along with his experience is another exciting addition to our spine and one I’m sure Canes fans will be looking forward to seeing in 2026.”
