TWO familiar faces have signed up to join the Keighley Cougars squad overhaul.
Spencer Darley and Ritchie Hawkyard have put pen to paper on deals with the Cougar Park club.
Prop forward Darley, 21, has joined from Betfred Championship side Featherstone Rovers on a one-year contract following two loan spells at Cougars during the 2019 season.
New Cougars signing number nine Darley originally joined Rhys Lovegrove's side on loan in February but his spell was ended prematurely by injury. He returned in June on loan until the end of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Hawkyard said: Bring me back I've unfinished business at Cougars.
That was the social media plea from Hawkyard and not long afterwards the deal was done.
The popular full back has returned to Keighley Cougars on a one-year deal.
The fans' favourite is back at Cougars following a season with Oldham, whom he helped earn promotion to the Championship with 12 tries in 22 appearances. That included a man of the match display in the recent play-off final victory over Newcastle Thunder.
Hawkyard previously spent three seasons at Keighley, celebrating his testimonial year in 2018 by winning three player of the year awards including the club's Man of Steel.
The Bradford Bulls Academy product - who spent nearly a decade at Swinton Lions - helped Cougars win the iPro Sport Cup in 2016 but the following year was blighted by an horrific facial injury that required plastic surgery after an accidental collision with Hunslet's Jimmy Watson.
Cougars head of rugby Gary Moorby said: “Ritchie is a firm favourite at Cougar Park.
“His hard and dynamic running style and enthusiasm when out on the field makes him a real handful and difficult to cope with for the opposition.
“I have no doubt that the supporters of the Cougars will be glad to see him back in a Keighley shirt.”
New Keighley Cougars signings for 2020 season: Spencer Darley, Ritchie Hawkyard, Dan Hawksworth, Ryan Wright, Kyle Kesik, Jake Webster, Mo Agoro, Ben Stead, Dalton Desmond-Walker.
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