Castleford swap James Green for Bradford hooker Reiss Butterworth

Castleford have signed hooker Reiss Butterworth on loan from Bradford until the end of the season, with front-rower James Green going the other way.

Butterworth, 19, has spent time on loan at Championship side Batley Bulldogs this season and will now be available to play for Castleford’s Under-19s side, should he not make first team selection.

Meanwhile, Green has found chances hard to come by at the Tigers this year, making just four Super League appearances.

Tigers director of rugby Jon Wells said: “I am delighted to be able to say that Reiss is joining the Tigers.

“Reiss is a young man who we have been looking at for a while now – he is a very talented, ‘eyes up’ hooker who has the potential to become a member of our first team squad in the near future.

“Reiss joins us initially until the end of the 2018 season and he understands that this is an opportunity for him to earn a contract with the Castleford Tigers. It’s a challenge I know he is very much looking forward to.”

Bulls coach John Kear said: “I think it benefits everybody. James Green is an established prop forward that has a wide range of experience.

“He has played at some good clubs and he will add something to us as a group, especially when you realise the immediacy is Hunslet away and York at home. To have someone of his caliber come in for those two games is really important.

“Reiss I feel will also benefit from his loan spell for the rest of the season as he will be mentored by Paul McShane who is a decent player and have Daryl Powell, Ryan Sheridan and Danny Orr’s input as well.

“I think it is win-win all round; we will certainly gain with the addition of the first team player but Reiss also will gain with the input of some highly intelligent coaches as well as a highly rated first team player.”