Following the side’s rejection to join the Championship, one of the remaining players at Featherstone Rovers has left the club and returned to the amateur game for 2026.
Josh Hardcastle was one of 10 players from the 2025 squad to be left without a contract for the new season, but his rugby league future has been secured, after he was confirmed to have returned to community side Featherstone Lions.
Having played for the Rovers since 2017, he made 186 appearances for the club, scoring 75 tries.
However, before his career at Post Office Road began, he was a Lions junior, and represented the side in the Challenge Cup in 2015 and 2016.
Able to play in the back row or at centre, he became a fan favourite over the years, and will remain in the town as he continues his rugby career in the NCL.
The confirmation of his future means that there are now nine players who featured under Paul Cooke in 2025 that remain without a club, and with the new Championship season starting later this week , most sides have already completed recruitment for the new campaign.
Former Super League players Derrell Olpherts, Sitaleki Akuaola and Ryan Hampshire are among those without a contract for the season.
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