Ambitious Championship side secures ex-Huddersfield Giants star

York Knights have confirmed that former Huddersfield Giants and ex-Tongan international Ukuma Ta’ai has re-signed with the club for 2025.

Ta’ai, now 37 years old, signed with Huddersfield Giants ahead of the 2013 Super League season after spending three seasons with New Zealand Warriors in NRL.

With the Giants, the versatile forward made almost 200 appearances in a spell that lasted until 2020.

He then joined Newcastle Thunder, dropping out of Super League, and will now move into the third season with York Knights, under head coach Mark Applegarth.

He also played for Tonga, most recently playing in a World Cup quarter-final in 2017, with his nation narrowly defeating Lebanon 24-22 in Christchurch.

York Knights secure contract for former Huddersfield Giants international

In a club statement, Applegarth said: “I’m really glad Ukuma is over the line.

“He’s a father figure of that forward group, not only for what he brings on the field but he’s a very good mentor of the players off it.

“It’s not only with his rugby league experience but with how he lives his life and the values he upholds.

“He’s a really fantastic re-signing for York and he’ll add a lot to not only the playing ability of the squad but the culture away from the rugby as well.”

In 2024, he was a key member of the side at the start and end of the season, but struggled with injury, just as he missed much of the 2023 season through a knee injury also.

He was back for the final four games of last season, including the eliminator victory over Widnes Vikings and the semi-final defeat to Wakefield Trinity.

Despite often featuring from second-row for Huddersfield Giants and Newcastle Thunder, he has featured almost exclusively as a prop for the Knights in his time with the club so far, and will likely continue that going forward.