Clare returns to Castleford

Castleford have re-signed winger James Clare from Leigh on a one-year deal, with a club option for a further year.

Clare, 26, left the club midway through 2015 and initially joined Bradford, before moving to the Centurions for 2017.

He said: “I’m very excited to be coming back to the Tigers. Cas is the club that I’ve supported for my entire life so to be back here and to have another chance to pull on this famous shirt is great.

“I’d almost agreed something with another club but I met with Steve Gill and he let me know they could be an opportunity here. I pushed for the move as much as I could because I knew I always wanted to come back here.”

Clare scored 24 tries in 38 appearances for the Tigers having come through the academy, and then scored 18 tries in 23 games for Bradford in the Championship in 2016.

Unfortunately, a horrific ACL injury sustained in pre-season hit his time with Leigh, where he was limited to just five appearances, all in The Qualifiers, where he scored six tries.

Tigers coach Daryl Powell added: “James has strengthened and got bigger physically as a player during his time away from the club and I think he will really challenge the players on the wings to be right on top of their games, and I am looking forward to seeing how he goes. He has got a great opportunity now to show us what he is all about.”