POCKLINGTON RUFC have bolstered their coaching staff for the 2021/22 season by bringing former Samoa international Mike Umaga to the club, writes Phil Gilbank.

Umaga arrives at the club with a stellar pedigree as both a player and a coach.

The former full-back began life in England in rugby league, spending two seasons at Super League side Halifax between 1995 and 1997.

The Auckland-born talent then switched codes and had a long career as a player, player-coach and coach at Rotherham Titans, including a brief stint coaching in the RFU Premiership while at the South Yorkshire club.

Umaga, who is the director of rugby at Bishop Burton College, has agreed to continue his coaching career at Pocklington.

Welcoming Umaga to Percy Road, Pocklington director of rugby Tony Penn: "It's brilliant that Mike has agreed to come on board at Pock.

"We've got some talented young backs that can only get better with his advice and experience, and you could see straightaway at his first training session how the guys were responding to him.

"As a fellow adopted East Yorkshireman I'm really looking forward to working with him at Pocklington."

Elsewhere in rugby union, York RUFC play their first home match in the North Premier against Kirkby Lonsdale (3.30pm) this weekend.

Pocklington and Malton & Norton both have home games in the North One East, as they host Bradford & Bingley and Driffield respectively.

In Yorkshire One, Selby make the trip to Huddersfield YMCA while in the Yorkshire Four North West, York RI and Nestle Rowntree entertain Thirsk and Knaresborough respectively.

Nestle Rowntree II have had to postpone their trip to Harrogate Pythons due to having 28 unavailable players.

The Trees mounting injury list includes captain Ryan Roodt, who will have an operation on his shoulder next week and is likely to be out for the entire season.