BATLEY BULLDOGS recruit Ben Reynolds is having to patiently play the waiting game to make his debut for the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium side due to the cancellation of two matches, including one against his previous club Featherstone Rovers.
The much-travelled former Super League halfback arrived from the Millennium Stadium side, linking up with James Ford, one of his coaches there, with half of a four-game suspension still to serve.
It was imposed for talking out of turn to a match official and meant he missed Featherstone’s final game of the regular 2025 Championship season and subsequent play-off eliminator, both at Bradford Bulls, who won each time.
Reynolds, one of three experienced halves at Batley alongside Ben White and Josh Woods, sat out the 18-0 Boxing Day challenge match win at neighbours Dewsbury Rams.
A second pre-season run-out, at home to Sheffield Eagles, fell victim to the cold snap, while the absence of scheduled opening-round visitors Featherstone from this year’s new-style Championship due to their failure to exit administration and gain RFL membership meant Batley missed out on another outing, which should have taken place on Sunday, with attempts to fix up a friendly falling through.
Ford’s side host Hunslet ARLFC in the second round of the Challenge Cup next weekend – with a home tie against Catalans Dragons up for grabs – in his first competitive clash since being sacked by Featherstone in February.
So as long as that match goes ahead, Reynolds will be available for what is now Batley’s first league game at Halifax Panthers on Sunday, February 1.
The 32-year-old and Ford, 43, go back to 2014, when they played alongside each other at York, where the latter moved into coaching.
Reynolds was on loan from his first club Castleford Tigers and later had spells at Leigh Leopards (twice), Wakefield Trinity, Featherstone (the first of two) and Hull KR, while also playing on loan for Doncaster, Dewsbury, Featherstone and Hull FC.
“Fordy and I know each other, get on together and bounce off each other well,” he explained.
“I’m pleased to be here and I’m looking forward to being able to kick-start my season.”