Championship club confirm injury to key man as six new faces arrive ahead of first pre-season run-out
Jack Bussey in action for Featherstone Rovers in 2021 - Alamy
Featherstone Rovers have brought in six new faces for Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Bradford Bulls following an injury to key man Jack Bussey.
Bussey – one of very few to remain at Post Office Road after last season’s failed promotion push – has made 141 appearances for the Flatcappers.
67 of the Leeds-born forward’s appearances have come since his return in 2019 after a short stint away with Canadian outfit Toronto Wolfpack, with the 31-year-old set to enter a 10th overall season with the club in 2024.
In a press release on their website looking ahead to the pre-season clash with fellow Championship outfit Bradford this weekend, Featherstone however confirmed he had picked up an injury in training on Wednesday (January 3).
The details of that injury remain undisclosed.
Championship club Featherstone Rovers confirm injury to key man as six new faces arrive ahead of first pre-season run-out against Bradford Bulls
In the same press release, Fev announced the arrival of six new faces ahead of Sunday’s game at Post Office Road, with four of those on trial.
The only permanent signings in the six – as yet – are 10-time Jamaica international Keenen Tomlinson, who spent 2023 with Keighley Cougars, and Ollie Farrar who has been picked up from Wakefield Trinity’s academy.
Tomlinson has also featured for London Skolars, Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs, while Farrar’s sole senior appearance to date came on loan at Dewsbury last season.
Ex-Bradford man Charlie Harris, the first of the trialists, has been snapped up by hometown club Fev following his release by the Bulls. The youngster – who also spent time in the academy ranks at Castleford Tigers – can slot in at full-back or half-back.
Sam Hassard meanwhile has been handed a chance to impress after his departure from Hull KR. The young utility back has experience in rugby union as well as league.
More experienced are the duo of Jack Arnold and Dean Roberts. At 26, utility forward Arnold has 26 appearances in League 1 to his name having donned a shirt for Keighley, Rochdale Hornets and Oldham.
Rounding off the quintet who will appear for Rovers on trial on Sunday is front-rower Roberts, another with vast experience in League 1, accruing more than 50 appearances between Doncaster, Hemel Stags and Hunslet.