YORK KNNIGHTS will keep the core of their squad together in 2027, but have allowed long-serving utility Ata Hingano to leave after four years at the club.
Since his arrival at the end of the 2022 season, the Tongan international has been a part of some of the club’s most memorable moments in recent history, including scoring the winning drop-goal against Hull KR in their inaugural Super League match.
Also instrumental in last year’s 1895 Cup and Championship League Leaders’ Shield double-winning campaign, Hingano leaves York having scored 21 tries and 14 goals across just shy of 100 appearances in the black and amber.
This campaign has seen Hingano, who was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2024, switch from halfback to a ball-playing loose forward.
The club expressed its “deepest appreciation to Ata for his loyalty, commitment and contribution”, adding that he will be “greatly missed by his teammates, staff and supporters.”
Will Dagger will also leave York after an injury-hampered three seasons at the club.
Joining the Knights for a second spell from Wakefield Trinity in 2024, the fullback made an instant impact, scoring six tries and 50 goals and one drop-goal in his debut season.
But he has been hit hard by injury and has found game time hard to come by this season, having made just four appearances for York and two for partners Newcastle Thunder.
Having joined Widnes Vikings on loan in June, Danny Richardson now departs York permanently.
The halfback, who made the permanent move to York after initially joining on loan from Hull KR midway through the 2025 campaign has featured just three times for the club.
His most notable contribution came in round three, when he scored the winning drop-goal at Hull FC.
On-loan hooker Denive Balmforth returns to parent club Hull FC while veteran Paul Vaughan has retired.