YORK City Knights have secured a major coup with the signing of bulldozing front rower Rich Hayes from Hull Kingston Rovers.

The York-born star was rated as the best prop of the Northern Ford Premiership last season, getting into the official "team of the year 2002", and has been one of the most consistent performers in the entire league over the past decade, winning a host of accolades.

Rovers were very keen to secure his services for another year but instead he has decided to return to Huntington Stadium for a third spell with his home-town club.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "It is an outstanding signing for us. He was the form prop forward last season in the NFP and we're obviously delighted to have him on board.

"We had a hard battle prising him away from Hull KR as they were desperate to keep him and rightly so after the season he's had. Signing him shows what we are trying to do here."

Hayes, now 32, will be returning for his third spell at Huntington Stadium, having starred for York Wasps for eight years from 1989 to 1997 and again in 2000, making nearly 250 appearances for the Wasps in total and being named York's player of the year in 1995, '96, '97 and 2000.

Nicknamed "Hoss", the 6ft 1in 17-stone prop also played for Hunslet Hawks from 1998 to '99, winning an NFP Grand Final winners' medal, and has been with Hull KR for the past two seasons, being named the Robins' player of the year, players' player of the year and fanzine's player of the year in 2001 as well as the NFP's best prop last season.

Hayes will join player-coach Paul Broadbent in the Knights' front row, and the duo will provide a mighty basis for the team as they embark on the National League division two campaign.

Ferres said: "It's the start of a formidable-looking front row and it's the cornerstone of the side. We will be looking to bring in some relatively younger players to complement Paul and Rich in there."

Hayes had been considering retiring from the game but decided he still had much to offer the game and has signed a one-year deal.

"It is a significant signing for us," added Ferres. "Most props play better towards the end of their careers as they're more mature. He had an outstanding season with Hull HR and we're getting him at the top of his form.

"If he does retire at the end of the season then hopefully it will be a fantastic end to his career."

Updated: 12:34 Wednesday, November 06, 2002