Leigh re-sign Kiwi prop for Championship return

Leigh have given a new one-year deal to Kiwi prop Mark Ioane for their return to the Championship next season.

The Auckland-born forward joined the Centurions ahead of the 2020 season after making 100 appearances for London Broncos.

Ioane, a former Junior Kiwis representative, made 16 appearances for Leigh in Super League last season.

He said: “I’m looking forward to next season and can’t wait to get started. 2021 was a tough year and things didn’t go our way, but we move on.

“We’re bringing in some good, experienced players and young recruits and it’s going to be an exciting season and hopefully a successful one.

“The community has been great to us, and we want to stay here long-term. We get along with all the fans and our neighbours and we love living here.

“We’re a long way from home, but this is our home now.”

Mark Ioane retention delights Leigh head of rugby

Leigh head of rugby Chris Chester said: “Our recruitment strategy is based around signing good players and good people.

“Everything I’ve heard about Mark has been positive. He’s just as good off the field as he is on the field.

“Mark is an experienced player who has been in the NRL and experienced some good systems and in 2021 he showed a lot of good qualities in a struggling team. I could see those qualities every week and that goes a long way.”

Elsewhere in the Championship

Featherstone have re-signed winger Luke Briscoe from Leeds for the 2022 Championship season.

The 27-year-old scored 43 tries in 44 appearances for Featherstone between 2017-18 prior to his move to Leeds.

Briscoe said: “It’s a massive honour, it’s my hometown club.

“The main goal is to get into Super League. The boys just missed out this year in the last game and my goal is to come here and help us get in to Super League.”

READ MORE: Championship ins and outs for 2022: Signings and retentions club-by-club