WIDNES VIKINGS have agreed a two-year contract extension with their experienced scrum-half Tom Gilmore.

The 32-year-old started a second spell with his hometown club in 2023 and has become a key player in coach Allan Coleman’s system.

Widnes are currently fifth in the table with two league games remaining, and as well as the play-offs, are preparing for an 1895 Cup final clash with London Broncos at Warrington on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

Gilmore came through the old Widnes Academy to make a first-team debut in Super League in 2012, playing 52 times before heading to Halifax in 2020, when the Championship season was cut short by Covid and he had a short loan spell back in the top flight with the old Salford Red Devils.

His appearances in his first Widnes spell included the 1895 Cup final defeat by Sheffield Eagles at Wembley, and during his two years at Batley Bulldogs, he played in the 2022 Championship Grand Final loss at Leigh (then Centurions, now Leopards).

Gilmore has turned out 152 times for Widnes in total, scoring 27 tries and kicking 240 goals and eleven field-goals.

“I’m really happy this is now over the line, and hopefully I can finish my career here,” he said.

“For the rest of this season, I’m looking forward to the big games we have coming up, and I’m sure the town will get behind us as they always do.”

Coleman called Gilmore “one of the stand-out halves” in the Championship.

“I think everyone has seen how good Gilly has been this year,” he said. “He’s become more of a run threat, he’s been more creative and he’s really enjoying his rugby, which is a pleasure to see.

“He’s worked really hard in the off-season, he is as fit as he’s been for ages and just really smart with his rugby now. It was a no-brainer for the club to keep him on board.”