At 6 foot 4inches and 18 stone, the 24-year-old Hawkins will add more power to a pack which has improved out of all recognition this season as the Woodhead club have charged to the Yorkshire Two title and final of the Yorkshire Shield.

Hawkins, who is keen to play in the back row rather than at lock, is a product of the renowned player production line at the Hipperholme club, leaving for Cleckheaton at the end of the 2002/03 campaign.

He had a successful four season stint at Moorend and has just finished the current campaign with National Two champions Otley, recently moving back to this area.

Brods captain Oliver Akroyd, a former teammate of Hawkins at Cleckheaton, said: "Ollie is a fantastic signing for the club. His time at Cleckheaton and Otley has turned him into an outstanding forward.

"He has the physical attributes we are looking for and will hopefully make a big impact on Yorkshire One."

Player-coach Nick O'Connor added: "To get a player who has played National Two rugby so recently is a great signing and an indication of how serious and ambitious we are, whilst keeping hold of the club ethos of developing junior players."

Brods and Sandal, meanwhile, have won their battle to get the Yorkshire Shield final played at Huddersfield YMCA next Wednesday (7.0).

Brods beat Ilkley and Sandal accounted for Bradford Salem in the semi-finals last weekend but both clubs were dismayed when Yorkshire RFU announced that the final would be held at Laund Hill on Sunday, May 25.

That would have meant keeping the players ticking over for another three weeks.

O'Connor welcomed the decision saying: "After long seasons both teams wanted to play as soon as possible.

"Credit to Yorkshire and YMCA for moving swiftly to bring the date forward."