Jamaica international Keenen Tomlinson makes Championship move

Drew Darbyshire
Keenen Tomlinson Jamaica PA

Photo: Tim Goode/PA Wire/PA Images

Keighley have signed Jamaica international Keenen Tomlinson on a one-year deal following their return to the Championship.

The 25-year-old arrives at Cougar Park from Dewsbury, who suffered relegation to League 1 last season.

Tomlinson, who is the son of former Keighley winger Max Tomlinson, represented Jamaica in their first-ever Rugby League World Cup last autumn.

The versatile forward has won nine caps for the Reggae Warriors, having made his international debut in 2016.

Keighley coach delighted to pull off Keenen Tomlinson coup

Cougars coach Rhys Lovegrove said: “Keenen is a player I know well from my time last year in camp with Jamaica.

“He offers me versatility as he can cover a number of positions. A player with his attributes will also be useful in a 30 plus game season like the one we are about to embark on.

“We had Keenen on trial a couple of years back, but he opted at the time to sign with Dewsbury who were of course in a higher league than us at that point.

“He is fast, athletic, and a fantastic human being, which are the attributes I was looking for when we first brought him on trial after the World Cup.

“And he also has that connection with Keighley as a club from his childhood through his dad. So again, he knows what is expected of him by not just me, but the supporters also.

“I am happy for Keenen that his trial period was a successful one. I know he can’t wait to rip in starting at Newcastle on Saturday.”

Tomlinson came through the system at Bradford and has also played for London Skolars (loan), Batley and Dewsbury.

The Leeds-born forward played in all three of Jamaica’s games at the World Cup last autumn.

READ NEXT: How the West Indies could line-up if their rugby league team rreturned