ROCHDALE Hornets have signed second-rower Dave Allen and Toby Adamson on one year deals, meanwhile loose-forward Gary Middlehurst has signed a new one year contract at the club.
Allen said on his decision to join the club: “I spoke to Gary Middlehurst and he asked me if I fancied it, I had a bit of a bad year last year through injury and I didn’t end up playing at Whitehaven.
“I was going to call it a day then Gary asked me to have a chat with Rochdale and it all snowballed from there really. I like head coach Alan Kilshaw’s approach to the game and how he likes to play.
“With the facilities the club has got too, it looked like a good opportunity for me, I was thinking about calling it a day but because I didn’t play last year I have really missed my rugby. Signing for Rochdale has given me a new lease of life and I can’t wait to get going.”
“When I left Widnes it was tough to adjust to part-time, I went up to Whitehaven and sometimes the weather and the pitches were a nightmare, so you’d go all the way up there to train and not be able to get on a pitch.
“Seeing the set-up Rochdale have at Padgate it’s brilliant with the indoor pitch and a gym all on one site, it was hard to adapt at first but you just have to get on with it. I have been around and I have a lot of experience under my belt which I can bring to the team.
“I have some good leadership qualities and I just like to play rugby. All round I think I can bring something to the team. I’ve not really thought about any goals yet but after my injury I just want to get back playing and hopefully do something special with Rochdale.
“They’ve got a great set of lads up there, a good coach and they have everything in place to have a rig dig and improve on this year’s season.”
Meanwhile Adamson said on signing pen to paper on a one year contract: “Alan got in touch with my agent and said he had seen me play a few times this year, and I think he had noticed me when he was doing video reviews of Dewsbury and other teams we had played.
“I had a decent game when I played against Rochdale, and after Alan had got in touch with my agent the deal was done pretty quick within one or two weeks. I’d probably say he was one of the main factors in me signing for Rochdale.
“You have to get on with the coach and you have to be on the same wavelength, and you end up seeing them more than your mrs you’re with them that much. I met him before I signed to see the training facilities and I got a really good vibe from him.
“He’s a good bloke and I’d asked some of the lads who are already there how he was as a coach and they had nothing but praise for him. I’ve got really good vibes about him and I’d probably say that’s one of the main reasons why I signed at Rochdale.”
In other news the Hornets have lost prop-forward Gavin Bennon who has moved on to join Super League side Salford Red Devils.
The club has also released 11 players in preparations for the 2018 season, those players include: Chris Riley, Anthony Walker, Josh Crowley, Lewis Foster, Gavin Bennion, Jake Eccleston, Jordan Case, Michael Ratu, Paddy Jones and Samir Tahraoui complete the list.
Head coach Kilshaw said of the departures: “It’s always difficult when we say goodbye to players who have played a big part in our success. We see the Hornets as a family club and team, these players will always be part of the family. The door is never closed as we have seen players leave the club and return in the past.
“All of these players have made history with the club and can be proud whether that has been playing in the promotion season, staying in the Championship this season or both. We wish them all good luck in the future and thank them for the contributions they have made.”
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