SWINTON LIONS have retained skipper and backrower Gav Rodden and hooker Josh Eaves.
Rodden, 29, was brought to North Wales by Anthony Murray from amateur side Wigan St Judes in 2020 and reunited with him in March, when the experienced boss arrived at Heywood Road, initially as assistant to Paul Wood.
The former England Community Lions international has penned a two-year contract extension at Swinton, where he has already spent four seasons, making 90 appearances.
“Gav is a leader on and off the pitch,” said Murray, whose side finished 17th.
Eaves, 28, who is in his second spell at Swinton, came through the development system at St Helens and had four outings for the first team and loan spells at Whitehaven, Leigh and Wakefield.
He then played for Newcastle, Swinton (in 2023 and 2024) and North Wales, helping them win last year’s League One title, before returning to the Lions in April after the scale of the Crusaders’ financial issues emerged.
Eaves played 15 times between then and the end of the season to go with 46 Swinton appearances the first time around.
He has also signed a two-year extension, with Murray explaining: “Josh’s professionalism and understanding of the game have been hugely important to us.”