ROCHDALE HORNETS recruit Ben White is ready to use all his experience to help hoist the club back up the rankings.

The 31-year-old Leeds Rhinos product who has ended a seven-season association with Batley Bulldogs will now ply his halfback trade at the Crown Oil Arena, operating alongside Jamie Dallimore.

Rochdale, keen to push on under seasoned coach Gary Thornton following a 15th-place finish, needed to replace Widnes Vikings-bound Jack Hansen.

And chairman Andy Mazey reckons White, a Germany international who represented Leeds once at first-team level while also being loaned to Gloucestershire All Golds and then played for Swinton Lions, Halifax Panthers and Barrow Raiders before a 2020 switch to Batley, is a “fantastic signing”.

He explained: “Once we understood Jack Hansen would be moving on, our thoughts immediately turned to 2027, and Gary and I set about putting together a wishlist of potential targets. Ben was top and ticked all the boxes.

“Having come through the Leeds Academy, our paths crossed briefly while we were both at Swinton, and he’s gone on to become a top performer with Halifax and Barrow before finally finding a home at Batley.

“He worked with Jamie Dallimore before at Barrow, and his experience is another piece of the jigsaw as we strive to improve this team and push up that Championship table.

“We’ve got our man. Ben is a fantastic signing and a real coup for us.”

White said: “I’m a bit of an experienced head now, so coming into this younger group is exciting and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

“There’s a good buzz around the town at the moment, with the rugby and various other bits. I’ve got a young family and work locally, so it seemed the right fit for me.”