Hull KR Sign David Hodgson From Huddersfield

18 July 2011, 11:16 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Hull KR have signed David Hodgson from Huddersfield on a three year contract from next season.

The Huddersfield Giants winger will return to his roots, he grew up in East Yorkshire and played for Hull Boys Club before joining Halifax and going on to play for Wigan, Salford and the Giants.

The former Great Britain international has scored 15 tries for Huddersfield so far this year, including two hat-tricks, but was not offered a new contract and turned down Super League new boys Widnes in favour of a move to Craven Park.

'It's where I'm from and I'm really looking forward to getting the chance to play for my home-town team,

'As a kid playing for Hull Boys you always dream of going on to play for your local club and I've got the chance to do that from next year.

'There's a good base of players at Rovers and I'm looking forward to playing with them and adding to the strength of the squad.

'I've had some good times at Huddersfield, playing in finals and play-offs and it will be a sad day when I say goodbye at the end of the season.

'It will be good to have the Rovers fans on my side and hopefully I can do what I've done throughout my career and score tries for them.'

Hodgson made his 300th career appearance at Wakefield last month and is averaging almost a try in every other game.

Robins chief executive Mike Smith said:

'David is one of the competition's top wingers and his strike-rate speaks for itself.

'We're bringing to the club someone who is proven at this level, is hungry for a new challenge and is excited at the prospect of playing in front of some of the most passionate supporters in the country.

'He has scored tries wherever he has been and I'm sure Rovers fans can't wait to see him do it in the famous red and white in 2012 and beyond.'

Huddersfield managing director Richard Thewlis said his club were unable to offer the player a new deal because of salary-cap constraints.

'David has been one of our best-ever signings in the Super League era which his record amply demonstrates and he has a wonderful opportunity at Rovers which, with the emergence of younger talent at our club and the constraints of the salary cap, we would not be able to offer him,'' he said.

'The salary-cap rules and regulations are designed to some extent for younger players to make their mark and then earn the better contracts which ultimately means that other players have to move on, which in reality is what has happened in this situation.''

Hull KR have also handed a first professional contract to 17-year-old back-row forward Aaron Ollett.

A former Skirlaugh Bulls amateur, Ollett has signed a 12-month deal that will see him become part of the first-team squad from the beginning of 2012.