ROCHDALE HORNETS coach Gary Thornton says Samy Kibula will provide not only the size and physical presence expected of a prop, but also a helpful amount of skill.
The 27-year-old former Super League player who started out at Wigan Warriors has joined from Swinton Lions to become Hornets’ fifth close-season addition.
Halfback Ben White from Batley Bulldogs is a high-profile recruit, while Rochdale aim to bring out the potential in threequarters Harry Ratcliffe (from Wakefield Trinity), Dylan Proud (Keighley Cougars) and Jack Twigg (Huddersfield Giants).
Kibula, born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before a family move to the UK, came through the Wigan system to make one appearance for the first team (in 2018).
He has also played in the top flight for Warrington Wolves and Castleford Tigers, and outside it for Bradford Bulls and Batley (in two spells) as well as Swinton, where he spent this year, featuring 13 times.
The 27-year-old has also had various loan stints, taking his total number of games to three figures, and having lost prop Jordan Andrade to retirement, Thornton will welcome that experience to his front row.
“We are really pleased to have signed Samy, and I’d like to thank (chairman) Andy Mazey for getting this one over the line,” he said.
“With Jordan not around, we needed to bring in an experienced middle-unit player, and Samy has a wealth of experience in the Championship and Super League which will be invaluable to our group.
“His size and presence make him a real handful for opposition defences, but he is also skilful with ball in hand, and his ability to play at the line will be an added bonus.
“We want to build a strong and capable pack of forwards to compete at this level, and Samy’s signing adds to this. I’m confident he will be a real asset.”