Championship club bring in forward following release from contract at Super League hopefuls

Sheffield Eagles have announced their third signing of 2026, and have bolstered their forward pack by bringing in an enforcer from a club hoping to be in Super League next year.

The Eagles, who finished 11th in the Championship this season in what has been a transitional year for the club, have already announced two new signings for 2026, with one of those being former York Knights winger Joe Brown.

Now, they have added a second Knight to their roster, with former Castleford Tigers man Conor Fitzsimmons joining the club on a two-year deal.

Brown and Fitzsimmons were two of seven players to leave the LNER Community Stadium at the end of this campaign, however they will continue being teammates now their moves to Sheffield have been confirmed.

Starting out at the Tigers academy, Fitzsimmons made two Super League appearances before moving to Cumbrian side Workington Town. A switch to Newcastle Thunder came before a return to Town came in 2020. In 2023, he moved to York, where he has spent the last three seasons, making 68 appearances and scoring 12 tries.

A move to South Yorkshire is on the horizon for the 27-year-old, and he will look to help the Eagles rise to a play-off position once again, something he has been successful in doing in all three years at the Knights.

Speaking on the move, Fitzsimmons said: “I’m happy to get it over the line, and I’m really excited to get going. I’ve played a lot of games now in the Championship and I’ve probably become well established, and I hope that I’ll be able to bring all that experience with me for the next two years.

“It’s well known that Sheffield didn’t have a great year last season, they’ve always been fighting for the playoffs for as long as I’ve known, so that will be the goal coming in for next season.”

Coach Craig Lingard added his thoughts on the addition, with the former Castleford and Batley boss singing the prop’s praises.

He said: “Conor’s a well-proven Championship middle who’s been in a very good system at York. He’s been a top performer for them over the last three seasons; he gives us a bit of flexibility too of playing either as an out-and-out middle or as a direct thirteen who can link between the middles and the halves. “He’s a tough and physical forward, and I’m really pleased to be able to get him over the line.”

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