York RUFC have been given a vitamin 'C' boost ahead of their curtain-raiser at Sheffield Tigers with the signing of former Otley duo Peter Curtis and Gary Cassidy.

The influential pairing will team up with another former Otley star, after Lee Denham swopped the professional game at Cross Green for the rough and ready life of the Yorkshire Leagues at Clifton Park last season.

The signing of 36-year-old back-five forward Curtis is a massive coup for the ambitious York club, with the former Army star returning to the Clifton Park fold to take up the player-coach role after captaining Otley to their highest-ever finish last season.

Curtis, who has already completed his RFU level two coaching award, will take over the reins of the first XV, with Andy Gair now overseeing the side as director of rugby.

Curtis, who had a brief spell at York in 1995 before the game turned professional, still lives in Rawcliffe.

He will be key to the club's promotion hopes with his physical presence and experience vital.

Gair said: "Pete will fill a vital role that we were lacking last season and is expected to lead the team in terms of driving performances on the field.

"He is also keen to develop his knowledge and experience in coaching and given the developments in that area currently I am looking forward to working with Pete in the coming months."

Cassidy also returns to York with a wealth of National League experience, having played for the club before his move to Otley in 1996.

Cassidy, who lives in Fulford, had two years playing at York RUFC and his home coming strengthens a fearsome back division.

Although he has made his name as a scrum-half, the 35-year-old can play in the centre and as such provides the coaching staff with selection problems as to where to best utilise a player of such experience.

As well as his role on the pitch, Cassidy has also been providing some one-to-one coaching to fellow number nines James Arkle and Russell Dovey.

Updated: 12:12 Thursday, September 05, 2002