FORMER York City Knights favourite Alex Godfrey is eager to return to rugby league after rediscovering a love for the game at the York International 9s.

A number of National League clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him, but The Press believes his home-town club, the Knights, would be his preferred destination.

The York-born winger had been out of rugby for two years following a controversial drugs ban in May 2004 he tested positive for the banned substance Benzoylecgonine, a diagnostic metabolite of cocaine, but has always denied any wrongdoing.

He made a comeback with local representative side York Ironsides in the weekend festival held at Heworth ARLC.

He marked his return with a few trademark tries but said getting "bashed about" was as enjoyable as crossing the whitewash and helped persuade him that he missed the game.

"I loved it," he told The Press. "It was really good. I was shattered afterwards and ached a bit, but I really enjoyed playing and getting knocked about. I definitely want to get back into it."

The 27-year-old had told The Press before the 9s that he was unsure whether he wanted to play rugby again. But he has now made up his mind.

"Before the tournament, I was nervous and wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, but when it kicked off I really got into it," he explained. "I stayed for the final and got a real taste for it.

"Just getting tackled and knocked about was something I was not used to but it helped me get back into it. I want to get back fit as well, start training hard. I showed myself how unfit I was but it was still totally enjoyable.

"I'm definitely looking to come back. I don't know where I'll end up, but it will probably be next season, unless anything serious was to happen."

The Press believes the Knights, Batley Bulldogs coach Gary Thornton spoke to Godfrey at the 9s and Sheffield will be among clubs on the tail of the former York, Hull KR and Dewsbury flier.

The player added: "I know a few players at Batley and that's an option. I would prefer York because of the travelling and because it's my home-town club, but it would be foolish to limit my options now.

"It would depend on a few things, like who's in what division, the strength of the sides, teams' recruitment and things like that. You would always want to play in a winning side."

In the meantime, Godfrey is to continue training with his old amateur club, New Earswick All Blacks.

"Training for the York 9s was just one day a week and that was not enough for me to get fit enough.

"I've been going down to All Blacks for the past three weeks, and I'll probably start the season with them in September (in the winter Pennine League) and see how that goes. There are some really good young players at All Blacks and it would be interesting to play there," he said.

"Then, when NL1 or NL2 start their pre-season training, and a club wants me to go down, I might drop into that."