Players


Paul March

Player-coach: Paul March
 Scrum-half
Date of birth: 25/7/79
Played most of his ten-year career in Super League with Wakefield and Huddersfield, having helped both sides to win promotion from NL1, before being released by the Wildcats last year. Has always planned to move into coaching and to that end has two years’ coaching experience with leading amateurs Thornhill Trojans. This opportunity at National League level has nevertheless come early at the age of 28, and the dual role of player-coach adds more pressure, but he is well regarded in the game and comes with high recommendations. Should be a key player on the field.
Asst coach: James Ratcliffe
Coached through the ranks at top amateurs Thornhill – where Paul Marc
began playing – before joining Dewsbury’s backroom staff four years ago.
Was boss of the Rams academy team and an assistant to head coach
Andy Kelly.

Backroom staff:
Academy coach: Paul Higgins; assistant: Barry Gargan.
Conditioner: Brett Wilkie.
Physios: Jonny Trumble, Louise Broom.
Club doctor: Dr Daniel Crowley.

Captain: Scott Rhodes
 Half-back
Date of birth: 21/6/80
Now in his sixth season with his home-town club, the Scotland international was made club captain by new boss Paul March. Pacy and dangerous when taking on the line, and regarded as one of the best half-backs outside Super League on his day.
Mark Applegarth
Prop/second-row
Date of birth: 10/12/84
Released by Super League side Wakefield, where he was a first-team squad player but suffered an injury-hit last season, this hard-working, super-fit forward followed player-coach Paul March to York. Could be a key man.		 Andy Bailey
Prop
Date of birth: 15/10/82
Only 25 but an experienced head up front. Played in Super League for Hull, and helped Castleford win NL1 in 2005. Joins York after leaving Rochdale, then an NL1 club.
 Sam Blaney
Centre
Date of birth: 4/12/89
Heworth U16s Player of the Year in 2005 and a North Yorkshire junior, before joining Hull’s youth system. Was formerly on the Knights scholarship scheme and is now on York College’s rugby league course.
Dave Buckley
Second-row/prop
Date of birth: 14/10/81
Big-hitting Aussie, with Irish ancestors, is a firm favourite with the Knights faithful. Rarely makes mistakes and is looking for another good season to force his way into Ireland’s World Cup squad. Knights vice-captain.		 Matt Danville
Centre
Date of birth: 31/3/82
BARLA Great Britain international and a top player with leading amateurs Skirlaugh. Paul March hopes he will “take NL2 by storm”.
 Ross Divorty
Second-row/prop
Date of birth: 27/11/88
Impressed for Hull’s academy but now needs first-team action. Highly-rated and many experts reckon he could go far in the game.
Danny Ekis
Prop
Date of birth: 17/1/82
A star player for Hunslet, he plays in big stints and was a pack leader, despite not being the biggest prop, always doing well against York. Won promotion from NL2 with Keighley in 2003.		 Adam Endersby
Prop
Date of birth: 7/1/82
Non-stop former York Acorn amateur will look to break into the team having spent all of last season in the academy ranks.		 Ryan Esders
Second-row/loose-forward
Date of birth: 20/10/86
Youngster proved to be one of the finds of the season last term after making step up from Hull Dockers ARLC. Powerful for his age and feisty too, with no little ability.
Dale Ferris
Winger
Date of birth: 26/8/78
A big and strong three-quarter, he will look to build on solid academy season last year.
 Andy Gargan
Half-back/hooker/
loose-forward
Date of birth: 21/3/84
Former York Acorn and Great Britain amateur had a hit-and-miss first season and returned to York Acorn in February 2008.		 Danny Grimshaw
Half-back
Date of birth: 25/2/86
Debut season last year was hampered by injuries but the former Castleford academy player has shown promise and has impressed for amateurs Sharlston over the winter.
Steve Grundy
Second-row/loose-forward
Date of birth: 2/12/85
Not the biggest of back-rowers but hard-working with good footwork in attack, deceptive pace and an excellent attitude in defence.		 Tom Hodgson
Hooker
Date of birth: 12/5/88
A star player for New Earswick All Blacks ARLC, he joined the Knights academy last year and is looking to push for first-team recognition this term.
 Paul Hughes
Hooker
Date of birth: 28/12/84
Feisty and hard-working dummy-half signed from Featherstone. Younger brother of Carl, who had a spell at York in 2003 and is also now with Featherstone.
Rob Kelly
Second-row
Date of birth: 1/3/86
Youngster became a regular in Dewsbury’s NL1 team last season under his dad, Andy Kelly, having been their academy Player of the Year the season before. Former junior at Thornhill, where Paul March and James Ratcliffe hail from.		 David Leeke
Winger
Date of birth: 14/2/90
Club have high hopes for this teenage former York Acorn ARLC junior, who has joined from Leeds Rhinos academy. Young but quick and could be one to watch, and is certainly one for the future.		 Steve Lewis
Centre
Date of birth: 22/10/86
Followed player-coach Paul March in moving from Wakefield where he was part of the first-team squad albeit without breaking into the team. Good academy grounding and could go well at NL2 level.
Lee Mapals
Winger/full-back
Date of birth: 17/7/85
Fleet-footed former New Earswick amateur scored two tries in two games at end of 2006 and enjoyed exciting debut season last year, finishing as club’s top try-scorer with 19 and being nominated for NL2 Young Player of Year award.		 David March
Hooker
Date of birth: 25/7/79
Followed his twin, player-coach Paul, from Wakefield having spent almost all of his career in Super League. Played 203 times for Wakefield after making his debut in 1997. Will be a key man for York. Is also an adept goal-kicker.		 John Oakes
Centre
Date of birth: 12/2/88
One of Dewsbury Rams’ top academy starlets, who was coached by the Knights’ new assistant-boss, James Ratcliffe, at Tetley’s Stadium last year.

Kyle Palmer
Prop
Date of birth: 7/1/85
Signed from York Acorn ARLC as a centre, the big youngster played most of last year in the U21s until ex-boss Mick Cook threw him in at the deep end as a prop due to an injury crisis. Quickly looked the part – only to dislocate shoulder in pre-season.

 Danny Ratcliffe
Full-back/half-back
Date of birth: 14/3/87
Dewsbury Rams’ academy Player of the Year last season and arguably the best youngster at top amateurs Thornhill Trojans. Nephew of new assistant coach James Ratcliffe. Good support player, quick, and can kick goals.		 Rob Spicer
Loose-forward
Date of birth: 22/9/84
Double Player of the Year last season, despite missing the end of the campaign after a knee op. It was a big boost when he re-signed, even though that surgery means he misses start of this term. Superb in defence and usually error-free with ball.
Jack Stearman
Prop
Date of birth: 30/1/88
A product of New Earswick All Blacks ARLC, he is learning the semi-professional ropes in the academy and will look to take his first-team chance if and when it comes.		 Johnny Waldron
Winger
Date of birth: 22/10/82
Debut season was ruined by injury as he was limited to just one appearance. Pre-season this term has also been hit by injury but he will hope to prove his worth in NL2 after record-breaking try-scoring exploits with amateurs York Acorn.		 Luke Watling
Loose-forward
Date of birth: 18/4/91
Star in the making. Joined in first-team training last year at the tender age of 16 and was a regular in the under-21s. Now on the rugby league course at York College, which is linked into the Knights’ youth system.
Oliver Wilcox-Harrison
Second-row
Date of birth: 10/10/89
Voted the Knights’ academy Player of the Year last season – aged only 17 – and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal last July. Has a job to break into the first team this year but is certainly one for the future.		 Tom Wilcox-Harrison
Centre
Date of birth: 10/10/89
Former York Acorn ARLC junior did not play much for the academy last year due to injury but is full of promise. Identical twin of Oliver.
 Scott Woodcock
Prop
Date of birth: 15/11/83
Signed from leading amateurs Thornhill, where he was coached by Paul March. Has gained all the Great Britain honours in the amateur game and is looking to make an impact at semi-professional level.

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