2026 Squad Featherstone Rovers

[marklaspalmas]

2025 Squad Destinations:

Caleb Aekins to Bradford

Connor Wynne to Bradford

Jimmy Beckett to Castleford

Nathan Wilde back to Leigh 

Jordan Williams to Wakefield

Ben Reynolds to Batley

Robson Stevens to Batley

Derrell Olpherts to Batley

Bailey O'Connor to Dewsbury

Connor Jones to Doncaster

James Glover to Doncaster

Gadwin Springer to Doncaster

Brad Day to Halifax

Connor Barley to Goole

Will Jubb to Goole

Danny Addy to North Wales

King Vuniyayawa to Newcastle/York

Clay Webb to Brisbane Tigers

Gareth Gale to Featherstone Lions

Josh Hardcastle to Featherstone Lions

Ryan Hampshire injured

Calum Turner injured

Carlos Tuimavave returned to Australia

Sitaleki Akauola ??

 

Edited February 3 by marklaspalmas
Updated

[sentoffagain2]

  Heard earlier in the season when things were not going too well that Gale would retire after this season.Hope we can tie Gaz and josh down for another one or two years.They are Fev through and through and have been great servants to the club.

[Rarefrith]

Seems Owen McCarron has signed from Halifax for 2026. 

[gazza77]

13 minutes ago, Rarefrith said:

Seems Owen McCarron has signed from Halifax for 2026. 

First of the more local signings?

[Fevrover]

42 minutes ago, gazza77 said:

First of the more local signings?

It's West Yorkshire . 

[gazza77]

Just now, Fevrover said:

It's West Yorkshire . 

Not where he originates from tho.

[Fevrover]

Just now, gazza77 said:

Not where he originates from tho.

. 

[Fevrover]

1 hour ago, gazza77 said:

Not where he originates from tho.

Australia iam lead to believe. 

[POR]

25 minutes ago, Fevrover said:

Australia iam lead to believe. 

True F born in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia but raised in Brisbane

[The Phantom Horseman]

3 hours ago, gazza77 said:

First of the more local signings?

I think the point was that we won't be making too many more direct overseas signings where we have to pay for visas, flights etc. I suspect we won't be signing as many from the other side of the pennines as in previous years either.

[gazza77]

19 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

I think the point was that we won't be making too many more direct overseas signings where we have to pay for visas, flights etc. I suspect we won't be signing as many from the other side of the pennines as in previous years either.

All tongue in cheek.

[Featherstonerovers2000]

Rumours flying around as Salford look to be going bust and player jumping ship as seen two gone today. 
I heard from someone rely able that fev are after both Ethan Ryan and loghan Lewis from Salford also jack ormonroyd but game caller has said Oldham after him 

[plug]

I'v heard both going to Bradford along with chris hill

[Rovers fev]

Ormanroyd confirmed to Oldham this season 

I wouldn’t mind Logan Lewis this year but don’t understand if we sign Ethan Ryan as our backs or okay it’s forwards we’re short of 

[The Phantom Horseman]

1 hour ago, Rovers fev said:

Ormanroyd confirmed to Oldham this season 

I wouldn’t mind Logan Lewis this year but don’t understand if we sign Ethan Ryan as our backs or okay it’s forwards we’re short of 

All three of our wings are out of contract at the end of this season, it seems to be common knowledge that Wynne is going to Hull KR, there were rumours Gaz might call it a day after this year (hope they're wrong), and who knows if Olpherts will be retained. So as a signing for 2026 he'd make a lot of sense if we could get him, though it sounds like other teams have been after him.

[marklaspalmas]

It must be an absolute nightmare for many clubs doing recruitment for 2026. There'll be at least six or seven clubs wondering if/hoping they'll be SL and are recruiting accordingly. The top flight will have 50 more players at two extra clubs. And each club can sign 10 players from overseas.

For the rest of us, who knows?

[Monkeymagic22]

There’s a fair number of players, with well paid jobs, who won’t want to become full time in the Super League. It’s unsettling, but I shouldn’t think that we would have a problem getting a team together next season. SL is just going to be filled with second rate/over the hill Australians.

[The Phantom Horseman]

On 11/07/2025 at 14:57, marklaspalmas said:

It's about that time of year that the rumours start about who's staying and who's leaving for next season.

  

 

28           Ryan Hampshire 2025                    

 

 

 

Interesting snippet to come out of the recent interview James Deighton did with Ryan Hampshire.

As MLP's post above suggests, it was stated that he had signed until the end of 2025 when he was announced earlier this year.

However, in the interview Rocky reveals that he ended up signing a 2-year contract so is contracted to us for next year. Of course there might be a SL release clause in there and he does talk about wanting to get back to SL, but as of now he's our player for 2026 as well as 2025.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0lw78zb

Edited August 11, 2025 by The Phantom Horseman

[Banjorovers]

Great news. Do hope he's with us for2026!

He's getting better every week and developing a great partnership with Ben.

UTR

[Fevrover]

1 hour ago, Banjorovers said:

Great news. Do hope he's with us for2026!

He's getting better every week and developing a great partnership with Ben.

UTR

Yeah but trouble is with 2 possibly 3 clubs going up to SL ,they'll probably have to get decent players from the Championship clubs.

[Max_Power]

Notes the players I wouldn't want in 2026 or we know are leaving i.e Connor Wynne.

 

1             Caleb Aekins  2025     2026    

2             Derrell Olpherts  2025                    

3             Carlos Tuimavave 2025     2026    

5             Gareth Gale  2025                    

6             Ben Reynolds     2025     2026     2027

8             Gadwin Springer 2025                    

9             Will Jubb  2025                    

10           Jimmy Beckett   2025     2026    

11           Brad Day  2025     2026     2027

13           Danny Addy  2025                    

14           Connor Jones   2025     2026    

15           Sitaleki Akauola 2025                    

16           King Vuniyayawa 2025                    

17           Clay Webb  2025                    

19           Robson Stevens 2025                    

20           Josh Hardcastle 2025                    

21           Jordan Williams 2025                    

22           Calum Turner  2025                    

23           Connor Wynne  2025                    

24           Bailey O'Connor 2025     2026    

28           Ryan Hampshire 2025    2026                 

29           James Glover  2025     2026     2027

Edited August 11, 2025 by Max_Power

[Monkeymagic22]

1 hour ago, Fevrover said:

Yeah but trouble is with 2 possibly 3 clubs going up to SL ,they'll probably have to get decent players from the Championship clubs.

There’s many Championship players, who would prefer to remain part time, due to having a decent job outside rugby. I can’t see it being that much of an issue, although the odd player might move on.

[Fevrover]

20 minutes ago, Monkeymagic22 said:

There’s many Championship players, who would prefer to remain part time, due to having a decent job outside rugby. I can’t see it being that much of an issue, although the odd player might move on.

Well let's hope he's not one who moves on if a SL team happen to call.

[Monkeymagic22]

5 hours ago, Fevrover said:

Well let's hope he's not one who moves on if a SL team happen to call.

Hampshire still wants to be full time, so he might be one who leaves for one of the promoted teams.

[Squidward]

7 hours ago, Max_Power said:

Notes the players I wouldn't want in 2026 or we know are leaving i.e Connor Wynne.

 

1             Caleb Aekins  2025     2026    

2             Derrell Olpherts  2025                    

3             Carlos Tuimavave 2025     2026    

5             Gareth Gale  2025                    

6             Ben Reynolds     2025     2026     2027

8             Gadwin Springer 2025                    

9             Will Jubb  2025                    

10           Jimmy Beckett   2025     2026    

11           Brad Day  2025     2026     2027

13           Danny Addy  2025                    

14           Connor Jones   2025     2026    

15           Sitaleki Akauola 2025                    

16           King Vuniyayawa 2025                    

17           Clay Webb  2025                    

19           Robson Stevens 2025                    

20           Josh Hardcastle 2025                    

21           Jordan Williams 2025                    

22           Calum Turner  2025                    

23           Connor Wynne  2025                    

24           Bailey O'Connor 2025     2026    

28           Ryan Hampshire 2025    2026                 

29           James Glover  2025     2026     2027

I find it hard to want to cut any from the list tbh but maybe I'm too soft.

Hopefully Carlos can show his quality next season when fit.

Olpherts has been like the Curate's Egg but to me he's never shied away from hard work and tough carries Hardcastle esque.

Callum has also shown up well when called on. He offers something different. Good with grubber and placed kicks. He's a solid squad player as cover for full back and half back and hasn't thrown out the dummy when regularly not making the 17.

Akauola has been a big disappointment but he may have had some unpublished fitness issues beyond his control. His last 6 weeks have been by far his best and there may well be a decent player there.