York name new captain

York City Knights have confirmed forward Chris Clarkson will be taking up the role of team captain.

Clarkson joined the Knights ahead of the curtailed 2020 season, scoring his first try for the club in their last match against Rochdale Hornets in the Challenge Cup.

The 30-year-old has over 200 Super League appearances to his name from spells with Leeds Rhinos, Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers and Castleford Tigers.

He also made three appearances for England Knights in 2012 and was part of the Leeds squad which went onto win the Super League Grand Final in 2011, 2012 and 2015.

On taking up the role, Clarkson said: “Obviously it’s a great honour to be leading the team and I’m really excited to do it. I’m not on my own out there as we have some great leaders in the team, I’ve got a lot of help and I’m looking forward to guiding the team in the right direction and leading from the front.

“I can’t wait for this year to get started. We’re obviously playing Hull FC in the first game at the new stadium and we’re really excited for that.

“Obviously, it’s been a long year out and the lads have kept each other motivated through the last twelve months. We’re now at the back end of pre-season and it (the Hull FC match) will be a great test to see how far we’ve come.”

Clarkson replaces Tim Spears in the role and, on the appointment, Knights head coach James Ford said: “Chris is a very good professional, he selects his words carefully and what he says he genuinely means.

“I think it helps for a leader to do all those one per cent things. We talk about them a lot and reinforce them but he’s doing them all the time to a high standard and that helps.

“He’s a team-first person, an honest person, and he’s got plenty of drive about him. He carries a lot of respect in the group, similar to Tim Spears.