Rooney Returns to Rovers

Featherstone Rovers have confirmed that their former player Jamie Rooney has re-joined the club until the end of the season. Featherstone born Rooney joins his home town club from Gateshead and will be in the squad on Sunday for the trip to Whitehaven in the Kingstone Press Championship.

Rooney made his first debut in 1998 at the Recreation Ground as a 19-year-old, quickly making the halfback position his own under the guidance of former coach Peter Roe.

In his first spell at the club, Rooney amassed 1,243 points in Rovers colours. After kicking 473 goals and scoring 73 tries and a short loan spell at Castleford, Rooney moved to Wakefield Wildcats, where he scored more than 900 points and gained international caps for England. “It’s always been a dream to come back to Featherstone Rovers where my career started,” said Rooney.

“I was born in Featherstone and still live in the town, so to be given the opportunity to return to the club really excites me. I’ll bring a lot of passion and putting on that shirt again will be an honour. I know people point to my age, but it’s just a number and I’m just as enthusiastic for the sport and most importantly Rovers. “A strong squad has been assembled at Featherstone and I’m hoping I can contribute until the end of the season and see what happens from there. I’m hoping I can help the younger members of the squad too, and it should be an exciting end to the season.

“There are some talented players in the squad, I’ve played with Andy Ellis before up at Barrow and he’s always improving. The facilities at the club are second to none and the players are really well looked after compared to my first stint at the club. The Centre of Excellence is a top class facility.”

Read more on this and other Championship stories and match reports in Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express.