Muizz Mustapha’s new club for 2023 confirmed

Castleford have signed young forward Muizz Mustapha on a one-year deal from Leeds.

Mustapha, 22, made nine first team appearances for the Rhinos after coming through the club’s academy, scoring his first Super League try against Wigan earlier this year.

The Nigerian-born prop has had several loan spells away from Headingley, including at Hull KR in the top flight, and also Featherstone, Newcastle, Dewsbury and Bradford.

READ NEXT: AFCON: Our selection of African rugby league players

He told the club’s official website: “I’m very excited! It’s a new chapter and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I’ve been at Leeds since I was a kid so it’s a whole new environment.

“When I spoke to Radders (Lee Radford) he told me about the plans and how the club is looking forward to the future. Everyone else I’ve met so far too has been great, genuine lads.

“I want to play as many games as I can. I think over the last few years I’ve struggled to cement my place in the First Team and have a good run of games, I want to be playing every week and get some good experience under my belt.”

Muizz Mustapha is re-united with former Leeds team-mates Alex Sutcliffe, Alex Mellor, Callum McLelland and Brad Martin.

The Tigers have an option to extend Mustapha’s deal by a further year.

Coach Lee Radford added: “I really like how Muizz plays, his leg speed, his defence, his line speed is fantastic, and he is a different shape to a lot of front rowers kicking around in the competition.

“There is a niche for what he does, a tidy-up man in and around the ruck, the type of player who will get the best out of someone like Sui (Suaia Matagi) and vice versa. We are hoping in bringing him to our club we can develop him into becoming the player we know he can be within.”

The arrival of Mustapha follows on from the signing of Albert Vete from Hull KR.

Castleford have released Cheyse Blair, James Clare, Sosaia Feki, Ryan Hampshire and Derrell Olpherts, while Jake Trueman has joined Hull FC.