KEIGHLEY Cougars have continued their build-up to their return to pre-season training with ins and outs galore and international appearances for their players.

Lewis Wray has completed a permanent move to Cougars Park from Super League side Wakefield Trinity.

The utility forward has signed a one-year deal with the club following his season-long loan at Cougar Park last season.

He tweeted: "Over the moon to have signed for such a great club.

"I really enjoyed my rugby last year playing under Rhys (Lovegrove, head coach) and playing with all the boys. Can’t wait to run out again at Cougar Park, see you all this season!"

But following a flurry of new signings over the last few weeks, including star capture Jake Webster from Bradford Bulls, there have also been a couple of departures.

Both Jamie Thackray and Davey Dixon have left Cougars to move up a level to the Betfred Championship.

Thackray, who started his career at Hunslet Hawks in 1997, has signed a one-year contract with the 2019 Betfred League One champions Whitehaven.

The experienced player made four starts and nine substitute appearances for Cougars during their 2019 campaign, scoring one try.

The 40-year-old former Great Britain international, who also played in a Challenge Cup final and the Super League, was Cougars' most eye-catching capture ahead of the 2019 season, after he had hung up his boots following a spell at Doncaster in 2017.

He tweeted: "Looking forward to it, a lot of good talent in Cumbria."

Meanwhile, winger Dixon, 22, has signed an initial one-year deal with Dewsbury Rams.

Dixon who has left the Betfred League One side after two seasons played 50 times for the club scoring 16 times from his position on the wing.

He made 45 appearances for Cougars since his debut in 2016, scoring 13 tries with an overall 52-point tally.

Dixon made a first full appearances for Scotland in October 2018 when he played in the 26-10 defeat to Ireland in the 2018 Rugby League European Championship.

A first international try came in his second game when he opened the scoring in the 50-12 loss to Wales.

Speaking on the Rams' website, their head coach Lee Greenwood said: "Davey has a lot of potential to succeed at this level and possibly higher. He is young but has played regularly against men and done well.

"He is an accomplished finisher and is happy to come in and help the team go forward.

"Despite representing Scotland this Autumn, he will slot straight into the start of our pre-season which says a lot about his character and determination to do well here.

"He knows the challenges of stepping up a division and the competition he will have, but he is confident in his own ability which is good."

Dixon was selected in Scotland's 19-man squad, alongside now former Cougars team-mate Kieran Moran, for their country's World Cup 2021 qualifier against Serbia last Saturday.

Meanwhile, it was Moran who took bragging rights over cureent Cougars team-mate Jason Muranka in emphatic style, as Scotland stormed to an 86-0 win.

Both Moran and Muranka featured for their respective countries, as Scotland have one foot in the 2021 World Cup following their European qualifying tie at the Lochinch Ground, Glasgow.

The Bravehearts led 56-0 at half-time after running in 10 first-half tries, three of them from winger Will Oakes, while centre Dave Scott completed his hat-trick in the second period.

The Scots can clinch a place among the 16 nations for 2021 with victory over Greece in their final qualifying match, which will be played at New River Stadium, the home of London Skolars, on Friday night.

Muranka and Serbia have a bye week in their World Cup qualifiers.