KIWI power is to add muscle to York Wasps Rugby League Club's revival.

In addition to signing former fans' favourite Peter Edwards, the Wasps are to take another New Zealander, 21-year-old Keri Penharwood, on trial.

Former international Edwards, the ex-Auckland Warriors and Salford City Reds hooker, returned to the Huntington Stadium ranks by putting pen to paper yesterday.

Edwards, 32, left Wasps for Doncaster in 1999 because of the financial squeeze at York but is relishing the prospect of joining the new-look Wasps.

He said: "The club seems to have got itself sorted out and Ann (Garvey, Wasps' Chief Executive) has some good ideas for the future of the club."

Edwards, who has not missed a first team game for three years, will add a wealth of experience and stability to the squad.

He is relishing the start of his second spell with York and believed they could be a surprise package in the Northern Ford Premiership set-up.

He said: "I am really looking forward to it. My form has been pretty good and I had a good relationship with the fans the last time round.

"I am hoping we will be able to make the play-offs.

"It is early days and a long way off yet, but that's what I would like to aim for."

Of new coach Leo Ephifania, who will jet in from Australia to take charge of the York squad shortly, Edwards said: "I have not met him but I have heard he has a good reputation as a coach."

Edwards will not be the only Kiwi keen to make an impact at York in the new season.

Penharwood, who had a brief trial last season when Lee Crooks was coach, is being given another chance to stake a claim for a professional contract.

The six foot tall centre, who was born in Swansea but moved to New Zealand as a toddler, has played at the equivalent of National Conference League in that country, for Howick and Pakuranga.

He was working in London when he had a few sessions at Huntington Stadium last term but he has now moved to work in York.

Garvey said: "He came up and had trials when Lee Crooks was here because he knew he was going to move to York, but at that time it was difficult for us to assess him and we could not take things further because he had to go back to London.

"He's been in contact with us and we've agreed a trial period until Christmas when we will review the situation.

"Leo Epifania will be here soon and he will assess for himself what we should do."

Penharwood becomes the second trialist at Huntington Stadium, joining York University rugby league captain Callum Irving, a Scottish Student international who was with Wasps last season.