YORK City Knights have pulled off one of the biggest coups in the National League with the capture of former Great Britain international Lee Jackson.

It is one of the most notable signings in York rugby league's modern history and underlines yet again the desire by the new club to succeed.

The 33-year-old hooker will join player-coach Paul Broadbent and Richie Hayes in perhaps the most formidable front row in the entire National League and his arrival will boost hopes of an immediate promotion into division one.

Jackson, who was released by Hull at the end of the Super League season, joins on a two-year contract and Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "Obviously we're delighted that we've been able to capture a player of Lee's quality.

"I still believe he is capable of playing Super League football and he is the sort of player who, whatever level he's playing, retains a very high fitness level and will give 100 per cent to the cause."

Jackson won the last of his 17 Great Britain caps in 1994 but was often touted for a return, most notably in the past two seasons with Hull, for whom he was playing some of the best rugby of his career.

Furthermore, at the end of the term, Jackson - who made his Hull debut in 1986 - had been involved in top-flight rugby league longer than any other current English Super League player, including a spell in Australia with York's namesakes, Newcastle Knights, in the mid-to-late-1990s.

Full story and pictures in tomorrow's Evening Press.

Updated: 17:42 Thursday, December 12, 2002