YORK City Knights have added strength in depth to their squad for the 2019 Betfred Championship with the double signing of England Students internationals Marcus Stock and Jason Bass.

Former Hemel Stags player Stock, 22, who previously played at Sheffield, was thought to be interesting other Championship clubs before deciding to join the Knights.

He is described as a hard-working back-row forward with good footwork.

Bass, also 22, who can play anywhere across the back line, is a graduate of the Midlands Academy and has played over 60 games for Coventry Bears in League One.

Both have signed one-year deals.

Knights head coach James Ford said: “Marcus popped up on our radar after some strong performances for Hemel.

"He was also highly recommend by the Hemel and England Students coaching staff.

“He’s got a superb attitude towards hard work and learning and I’m excited to see where he can progress to.”

Bass was described by Coventry boss Tom Tsang as having "great footwork and agility" as well as being "deceptively powerful for his size". Tsang added: "Overall he is a tough and hard-working player as well as being a likeable character."

Ford said: “Jason’s strengths featured on all our previews against Coventry and he further demonstrated his ability with an outstanding tournament for England Students.

“I was very impressed by Jason’s willingness to work hard at his game and be the best he can be across the board - which is a fundamental trait we look for at York City Knights.”

Stock and Bass - England Students team-mates with Knights hooker Will Jubb - will link up with their new club-mates when they report back for pre-season training in mid-November.

They are the 17th and 18th players to sign on for 2019 - with more announcements imminent.

The squad now comprises League One Player of the Year playmaker Connor Robinson, fellow nominee Ben Cockayne, hookers Harry Carter and Will Jubb, centres Brad Hey and Liam Salter, wingers/full-backs Ash Robson, Matt Chilton and Bass, full-back/half-back Matty Marsh, and packmen Ronan Dixon, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Joe Porter, Sam Scott, Jack Teanby, Mike Kelly, captain Tim Spears and Stock.