Canadian international joins Hornets

Rochdale have beaten off competition from fellow Championship and Championship 1 clubs to capture Barrow Raiders forward Ruairi McGoff on an initial one month loan.

McGoff, 28, has had a spell at Workington sandwiched between two stints with Barrow as well as representing Canada on the international stage.

Hornets head coach Ian Talbot commented, “I have worked with ‘Rory’ briefly when I was coach at Lancaster College and playing at Chorley. He is a hard worker with bags of experience at the top of this league and above and will give us an extra option during the run in.”

McGoff had this to say: “I can’t wait to get stuck in at Hornets. I’m a player who always gives 100% in everything I do and I just want to be playing regularly.

“The chance to be involved with promotion really excites me. I’ve had some tough battles with John Cookson and the likes down the years, and Warren Thompson has been a stand out this year so I know I’ll have to work hard, but I can’t wait”

The prop is eligible for the fixtures with Oxford, South Wales, Gateshead and the TV game with Oxford, but will miss the final league game of the season with Gloucester as he has been selected for the Canadian team that will take on Rugby League World Cup side USA Tomahawks.