FORMER Featherstone Rovers winger Gareth Gale has returned to his roots following his exit from the West Yorkshire club.

Gale, who scored 90 tries in 130 games for Rovers, retired from professional rugby league at the back end of 2025 after Featherstone’s future was shrouded in doubt.

Rovers have since been denied entry to the Championship for 2026, prompting a number of other exits with Gale joining former teammate Josh Hardcastle in returning to Featherstone Lions.

Gale initially signed for Rovers ahead of the 2020 Covid-hit season after shining at amateur level for the Lions.

And Gale went on to play in a Championship Grand Final, which Toulouse won 34-12 in France in 2021, and two Wembley finals in the 1985 Cup.

Along with Mike Smith, Chris Bibb and Brad Dwyer, the 33-year-old holds the Featherstone record for most tries in a match, his haul of six coming in the 68-12 home Championship defeat of Newcastle in June 2021.