The club can announce, after 21 years at Castle Park, General Manager Neil Holmes will be retiring from the business.

Neil has been a part of Castle Park since Doncaster Knights’ days in National Two as the club looked to climb it’s way higher in the English domestic league structure.

He has seen the progression the club has made over those two decades – from the original club building here at Armthorpe Road to the construction and completion of the impressive De Mulder Lloyd Stand and the additional facilities which have made the venue what it is today.

Neil has witnessed promotion from National Two to National One to the Championship – experiencing demotions, promotions and a hard-fought play-off for the Premiership along the way.

He has worked alongside six different Head Coaches or Directors of Rugby in the sporting side of the business as well as being a regular feature in the planning and running of hundreds of weddings, parties, functions, and countless other occasions hosted by the Castle Park events team.

More recently, Neil has been a key figure in navigating the intense procedures of dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and achieving the noteworthy goal of passing the RFU Minimum Standards Criteria for potential promotion to the topflight of English rugby.

Neil has taken the tough decision to step away from the business in order to dedicate more time to his family and intriguing new ventures such as running his own portable gin bar for event hire.

Everyone at Castle Park extends a thank you to Neil for his 21 years of dedication to the business and we wish him the very best in his retirement, alongside his family.

The club are thrilled to announce the season-long loan signing of centre Joe Bedlow ahead of the 2023/24 season. 

Joe joins Doncaster Knights from Premiership side, Sale Sharks.

Discussing Joe’s loan agreement with the Knights, DoR Steve Boden said: “We’re really happy Joe is going to come on loan with us. We’ve worked with him in the past when he was on loan during the Championship Cup last year and he impressed.

“He’s a strong ball carrier with strong contact skills and he’s young. He needs game-time and exposure to try to force his way up the pecking order at Sale Sharks, so hopefully this deal will work to the benefit of both parties.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition at centre, so Joe’s going to have to be at his best to get the kind of game-time he wants.

“During last year’s Cup competition, he fit in with the boys really well, so we know what he’s like as a person and we know he’s going to bring the right attitude, so we’re really lucky to have him amongst our squad.

“And ultimately, this is also helping to grow the relationship we’ve built with Sale Sharks in the last two or three years, so hopefully that can continue in the future.”

The 21-year-old back has progressed in recent years from the Sharks Academy to appearances for the first team, mainly in the Premiership Cup. He has also spent time on loan in the Knights environment before – starting two games in the Championship Cup in late 2022 charting two wins over Coventry at home and London Scottish in the capital.

Charting a handful of appearances for Sale so far following his debut in a Premiership Cup fixture against Newcastle Falcons at the AJ Bell Stadium in November 2021, Joe has progressed well since joining the Premiership outfit from Myerscough College.

The young centre is motivated to further build on his game with more regular game-time.

“Having spent a few weeks here last season, I know the environment at Doncaster Knights will push me on and develop me as a player.

“I’m hoping this season we can kick on and compete at the top end of the Championship league and the Premiership Rugby Cup.”

We look forward to seeing what Joe can bring to the Knights throughout 2023/24.

As Joe is an incoming player, there are player sponsorship opportunities available. Please email l.higgins@castle-park.co.uk for more information.

Doncaster Phoenix’s new President, Paul Curzon (right in picture, alongside former President Billy Farley), has penned an open welcome letter to all supporters ahead of the 2023/24 season.

It reads:

“After well over 20 years involved the club, this summer sees me take up the role of the President of Doncaster Phoenix RUFC.

“Handing over to me is a friend, player and executive committee colleague Bill Farley who has loyally served the club well for many a year now in various roles and I know I will be able to draw from his experience in my new role.

“I look forward to my new role as President as I hope I can continue to help provide all our members, players and supporters along with their families a Rugby Club that is a good place to be around and where we can enjoy attractive rugby and have good fun.

“Thank you for your continued support to Doncaster Phoenix RUFC at Castle Park.”

We wish Paul and Phoenix all the best in their preparations for the new season.

Castle Park, home of Doncaster Knights, are looking to recruit in a handful of casual vacancies amongst our Events and kitchen staff.

The roles currently being advertised for are:

• Pot Wash
• Kitchen Assistant
• Bar Staff

The roles will mainly require availability to work weekends and be flexible in terms of a work schedule.

The candidates should be able to work under pressure and have the ability to work both as an individual and as part of a team.

The roles will be based at Doncaster Knights Rugby Club, Armthorpe, Doncaster.

Please note, to apply for any of the above roles you must be 16 or over.

For more information, or to apply, please contact Rebecca Hill at rhill@castle-park.co.uk

The club are thrilled to announce the signing of hooker Tom Doughty ahead of the 2023/24 season. 

Tom joins Doncaster Knights from Premiership side, Bath Rugby.

Discussing Tom’s signing for the Knights, DoR Steve Boden said: “We’re really happy that Tom has signed with us at Castle Park. He’s a hooker that’s experienced a little taste of top-flight rugby with Bath and he’s also tasted the Championship as well.

“He’s in a stage in his career where he’d like to challenge to play more regular minutes. We feel like some of his attributes, from what we’ve seen, could definitely try help push the club forward.

“He’s got a very competitive area that he’s playing in – up against George Roberts and Harri Morris – so we’re looking forward to seeing how strong parts of his game can push us as a team forward and inject challenge within the squad.

“We’ve spoken to a good amount of people regarding Tom and they spoke very highly of his character, which is a big driver in what we look for in players.”

The 26-year-old front rower, who was with Bath for 4 seasons, made 24 senior appearances for the side in domestic and European competitions. His original signing with the club was inspired by breakout performances for the University of Bath in the BUCS Super Rugby league.

The former BUCS captain, who represented his university between 2017 and 2019, debuted for Bath against Newcastle Falcons in 2018 and, having been known for his scoring prowess at university level, notched up a couple of tries at a higher level – including a try against Toulon on the road in European competition in late 2022.

Following his departure from Bath at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, Tom headed to the southern hemisphere to chalk up some game-time with Australian side, Sydney University,

The hard-working hooker is relishing the idea of both benefiting from and adding to the environment fostered by the current Knights squad.

“After I spoke with Bodes and got to know him and understand his philosophy of the game; the exciting players and staff at the Knights; the set up they have – it sounded like an environment and squad I want to be a part of and add to, while working with new people.”

We look forward to seeing what Tom can bring to the Knights throughout 2023/24.

As Tom is an incoming player, there are player sponsorship opportunities available. Please email l.higgins@castle-park.co.uk for more information.

The club are thrilled to announce the signing of scrum half Ollie Fox ahead of the 2023/24 season. 

Ollie joins Doncaster Knights from Championship rivals, Ealing Trailfinders.

Discussing Ollie’s signing for the Knights, DoR Steve Boden said: “We’re really pleased to have Ollie come on board. I’ve worked with him before and known him for a while now as he came through the academy at Yorkshire Carnegie when I was head coach there.

“We feel that Ollie’s got a lot to give the club as a Yorkshire-born player, coming from just down the road. So, we’re really pleased we’ve got another Yorkshire player with a lot of quality, ambition and desire to kick-on with his rugby career.

“We think he’s got a lot of good attributes to help challenge the other nines within our squad. He’s got a good passing game, kicking game and fundamentals. He’s at a stage in his career where he’s still young enough to get back to the top flight and we feel that he’s got the desire to do so, but he just needs to be in the position to be challenged with regular game-time.”                             

The Yorkshireman, from Dewsbury, grew up playing rugby league before joining the Yorkshire Carnegie rugby union academy at the age of 14. He would go on to make his Championship debut for the club during the 2016/17 season.

Getting the call from Premiership outfit Bath ahead of the 2019/20 season, Ollie would go on to make 21 first team appearances for the top-level side in 3 seasons at the Rec.

Alongisde this, Ollie’s career honours also include representing England U20s in both the U20s Six Nations competition and the World Rugby U20s Championship.

For 2022/23 season he represented Ealing Trailfinders before spending the off-season and beginning of the 2023 summer in Australia, gaining valuable game-time for Randwick in the Shute Shield.

The young half-back, who is a proud Yorkshireman, is looking forward to coming back to a home environment and add what he can to the Knights badge.

“I’m really excited to be playing rugby in my home county. I’m looking forward to working alongside coaches who supported me at very start of my academy years.

“It’s a great club, with a great ethos and reputation and I want to do it proud.”

We look forward to seeing what Ollie can bring to the Knights throughout 2023/24.

Ollie will be sponsored by loyal Knights supporters group T.O.S.S.E.R.S for the duration of the 2023/24 season.

Castle Park, home of Doncaster Knights, is looking to recruit a casual Front of House, part-time.

The role will mainly require availability to work weekends and Knights home gamedays.

The candidate should have a good knowledge of customer service and be able to work under pressure.

The role will require helping to oversee the smooth running of functions, will a good attention to detail being desired.

Good communications skills will be helpful in the role, so too will be experience of working as a team and as an individual.

The role will be based at Doncaster Knights Rugby Club, Armthorpe, Doncaster.

Please note, to apply you must be 16 or over.

For more information, or to apply, please contact Rebecca Hill at rhill@castle-park.co.uk

Premiership Rugby have today confirmed the fixtures for the new-look 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup, which kicks-off in September.

For the first time ever, the competition features Premiership Rugby teams against Championship rivals.

Doncaster Knights will kick-off their season at home to Cambridge for Round One in Pool D.

Tickets for the Knights cup games can be purchased HERE.

The teams in Pools C and D will play one cross-pool fixture alongside their own pool games.

The pool stage fixtures begin on the weekend of September 8-10 with the following four rounds taking place over consecutive weekends from September 15-17 to October 6-8.

The winners from each pool will progress to the semi-finals with the two highest ranked sides earning home semi-finals with these knockout games being held on the weekend of February 16-18 and the final on the weekend of March 15-17.

The Premiership Rugby Cup Final will be held at the venue of the highest ranked club in the final.

Doncaster Knights fixtures:

• R1 – Cambridge (H) – Fri, Sept 8 – KO 19:30
• R2 – London Scottish (A) – Sat, Sept 16 – KO 15:00
• R3 – Ealing Trailfinders (A) – Sat, Sept 23 – KO 15:00
• R4 – Bristol Bears (H) – Fri, Sept 29 – KO 19:30
• R5 – Northampton Saints (A) – Sat, Oct 7 – KO 14;45

Five games throughout the competition will also be broadcast live on TNT Sport, those games will be:

R1 – Sun, Sept 10 – KO 13:00 – Ealing Trailfinders v Northampton Saints

R2 – Sat, Sept 16 – KO 13:00 – Bath Rugby v Jersey Reds

R3 – Fri, Sept 22 – KO 19:45 – Gloucester v Harlequins

R4 – Sun, Oct 1 – KO 14:30 – Harlequins v Saracens

R5 – Sun, Oct 8 – KO 14:00 – To be picked after R1 and R2

The club are thrilled to announce the signing of tighthead prop Lewis Thiede ahead of the 2023/24 season. 

Lewis joins the Knights from Championship competition, Ealing Trailfinders, having first been a Knight back in 2008.

Discussing Lewis’ returning to the Knights after 12 years, Head Coach Steve Boden said: “We’re excited to have Lewis back at the Knights. He’s got a lot of experience – he’s gone off and been in some really top-class environments – so I think it’s great that he’s coming back to put something back into the club.

“It’s funny watching him now in his role as the experienced guy nurturing some of the younger players as, obviously, the roles were reversed all those years ago when he was the young guy coming through when I was still playing.

“He’s been fantastic since he’s come in. As a bloke, he’s been great in the environment – being a great teammate amongst the squad – and he’s worked very hard. We’re really pleased to have him back.”

Moving from Donny colours to those of Wasps in 2011, Lewis spent his time at the London club on dual registration with London Scottish, ultimately moving on a permanent basis to the Richmond Athletic Ground ahead of the 2013/14 season.

Making the switch to Ealing Trailfinders in 2016, Lewis made just shy of 100 appearances for Ealing in two stints for the club having moved to the Premiership with Bristol Bears for two years before returning to London and the Championshp in 2020.

Named in the Championship team of the season for 2021/22, whilst at Ealing Lewis won the British and Irish Cup in 2018, the Trailfinders Challenge Cup in 2021 as well as the Championship league and Championship Cup in 2021/22.

The 32-year-old returns to Doncaster as a strong scrummager looking to continue his set-piece strength amongst Steve Boden’s pack.

“It feels quite surreal to be returning to the Knights. To be back at the club where it all started for me. It feels like coming home – the first day back was lovely as there were so many familiar faces that I knew.

“I always envisioned coming back, but it just turned out that everything aligned so well that it happened to come about now.

“I truly believe we’re going to have a successful season and that’s another reason I joined – I honestly feel we’re going to do well as a club.”

We look forward to seeing what Lewis can bring to the Knights throughout 2023/24.

Lewis will be sponsored by PS Construction for the duration of the 2023/24 season – find out more about the business HERE.