Jamie Thackray signs for Whitehaven at the age of 40

Veteran forward Jamie Thackray has come out of retirement to pen a one-year deal with newly promoted Whitehaven.

Thackray, 40, made more than 400 appearances in a 21 year career before hanging up his boots at the end of 2017 while at Doncaster.

He is no stranger to Cumbria, having previously made 52 appearances for Workington as well as a stint at Barrow.

Thackray said: “I’ve got a lot of good friends up here, had a good couple of years at Workington. I love it in Cumbria and I’m just looking forward to having a dig.

“You only live once, I’ve always looked after myself and until I feel like I can’t play any more, I’ll keep plodding on and doing the best I can.

“The Championship is a tough division, there’s a lot of good players in there and I’m looking forward to testing myself. It’s going to be a challenge, I need to put a stone back on, I’ve been away in Thailand and I’m looking forward to getting to pre-season and getting stuck back in.”

A Challenge Cup winner with Hull in 2005, Thackray’s former clubs include Halifax, Castleford, Leeds, Crusaders and London Broncos.