Jeffries pulls out of Leigh move

Former Bradford and Wakefield half-back Ben Jeffries will not be taking up a deal with Leigh, the Centurions have confirmed.

Jeffries, 33, had signed a two-year contract to join the Championship League Leaders in December, but due to a combination of injury and family circumstances, he will remain in Australia.

Leigh Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: “It is very honest on Ben to contact us and notify us of his recent significant injury with a torn bicep. A combination of that and how it impacts on his family situation means that he unable to join us at Leigh Centurions. I am sure he would have been a great asset to the Club and we wish him well for a speedy recovery.

“We will hold his registration in the UK for the duration of the contract that he signed but we hope that should he recovery from the injury he will be able to play again in Australia. We are now looking for a third pivot to go alongside Martyn Ridyard and Ryan Brierley and it will do no harm for agents throughout the RL world to be aware of that.”

Jeffries made more than 200 appearances in Super League in two spells at both Wakefield and Bradford from 2002 to 2012.