Fax take Bronco on trial, hand deal to young Rhino

Halifax have signed the London Broncos half back or centre James Woodburn-Hall on trial and handed a reserve grade deal to the former Leeds Rhinos under 19s utility back Nick Rawsthorne.

Isleworth-born Woodburn-Hall, 20, who was playing for Hemel Stags in League 1 last season, hit the headlines when he made a Super League debut for the Broncos while still at school in 2013.

Dual-code talent Rawsthorne, who also played for the Rhinos’ sister club Leeds Carnegie, can play anywhere across the backline, but is best known as a full back or wing.

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He is the second graduate of Brooksbank School’s dominant Champion Schools side to join Fax, linking up again with the BARLA centre Chester Butler.

Both players could feature in a reserve friendly against South Wales Scorpions under 20s on Sunday (2.0), a fixture that will he held at Siddal rather than the team’s regular home at Huddersfield YMCA’s Laund Hill venue.

“James has come to university in Leeds so we’ve agreed to take a look at him,” said Fax’s head of youth Martin Gonzalez.

“He’s a strong boy, he’s played some Super League, but we need to find out what kind of player he is and more importantly what kind of player he could become.

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“Nick’s a player we’ve been interested in for a few years; he’s a talented boy who can play anywhere across the backline.

“He’s been playing some rugby union so he’s match fit and he’s looked very sharp in training.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him develop with the coaching of Simon Grix and Stevie Greenwood.

“I would place him in the same category as players like Brandon Moore, Chester Butler and Elliot Morris, who you’d hope would be putting pressure on the guys in the first team sooner rather than later.”