Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce the signing of prop Jake Ellwood from Cambridge RUFC.

A powerful front-rower weighing in at 120kg, Ellwood arrives at Castle Park with a wealth of CHAMP experience. A well-known figure within the league, he has previously represented Ealing Trailfinders, London Scottish, Ampthill Rugby, and most recently Cambridge RUFC.

Ellwood began his Champ journey with Ealing Trailfinders between 2017 and 2020 before moving on to London Scottish for two seasons. He later spent time with Ampthill Rugby before joining Cambridge ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, where he remained a key part of their squad.

Before this, Ellwood impressed in the BUCS Super Rugby competition while studying BSc IT with Business and later an MSc in Digital Marketing at Northumbria University. During this period, he also spent time in the Newcastle Falcons academy setup and earned representative honours with England Students.

Bringing size, experience, and strong set-piece ability, Ellwood adds further quality and depth to the Knights front row ahead of the new season.

Head Coach Darren Fearn said:

“Jake’s a very experienced prop who can play both sides of the scrum. After university he signed for Ealing, where he became a regular, before going on to play for a number of Championship clubs alongside work commitments.”

“Originally from Hartlepool, Jake’s delighted to be moving back North. I coached him when he was , so I can vouch for the type of person he is as well as the player, and he’ll be a great addition to the club.”

Ellwood said: 

“I’m buzzing to be joining Doncaster next season. When Daz reached out with the opportunity and to talk about Doncaster’s plans, it was a no brainer for me. He played a massive part in my rugby journey transitioning from BUCS into the Champ 8 years ago and it will be class to be back working with him and playing rugby in the North again! Doncaster is a club I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for and I can’t wait to get stuck in and be part of it.”

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce the signing of back row forward Louie Kirkham.

Kirkham joins the club as an exciting young talent, bringing real hunger, drive, and a willingness to learn and develop. Comfortable across the back row, he adds versatility and physicality to the Knights squad ahead of next season.

Louie impressed during his time in BUCS Super Rugby with Leeds Beckett University, where his performances consistently stood out. Prior to that, he progressed through the London Irish academy system and was contracted with the Premiership club before its unfortunate collapse.

Kirkham also earned selection for the England Students squad, where he played alongside fellow new signings the Hancock twins, as well as current Knight Jasper McGuire, who captained the side during that campaign. Those existing relationships should help him settle quickly into the environment at Castle Park.

Head Coach Darren Fearn said:

“Louie is a great addition to the club and joins us after graduating from Leeds Beckett. I worked with Louie previously with England Students, where he was a standout performer.”

“He came through the London Irish academy and was contracted there before the club folded. He’s a physical, robust back row who gives us a strong line out option and has the versatility to cover six, seven and eight. We’re delighted to have him at the club.”

Louie said: 

“I am really excited to join Doncaster and work with top coaches and players. It’s a great place to develop myself and I can’t wait to get started.”

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce that fly-half Morgan Bunting has re-signed with the club for next season.

Since returning to Yorkshire this campaign, Bunting has become an important member of the squad, bringing control, composure, and consistency to the Knights backline.

Born just down the road in Rotherham, Morgan began playing rugby from a young age at both school and club level with Wath-upon-Dearne. His talent quickly became evident, earning him a place in the Leeds Carnegie academy at the age of 14, where he remained a key part of the set-up until 2018.

Between 2018 and 2020, Bunting represented Yorkshire Under-20s and competed in two consecutive Jason Leonard Cups, the national county competition. In his first campaign, he helped Yorkshire lift the trophy in dominant fashion, including a 52-5 victory over Lancashire in the final. The following season, he was awarded the captaincy, although his time leading the side was unfortunately cut short by the pandemic.

Alongside his representative rugby, Bunting studied at Bishop Burton , where he played consistently. In his final year, he captained the first team, further demonstrating his leadership qualities.

After finishing college, Morgan signed his first professional contract with Nottingham, where he spent three successful seasons and made 63 appearances. He then returned to Yorkshire to join Doncaster Knights, a club already close to his family, with his father having represented the Knights nearly 100 times himself.

Bunting has now racked up 41 appearances, and established himself as a core member of the Knights squad. We are delighted he will be staying home another season. 

Head Coach Darren Fearn said:

“Bunny’s really stood out in the back end of the season and has made that 10 shirt his own. First and foremost, he loves the club. He’s been around it since he was a kid, watching his dad play, so it means a lot to him.”

“He competes hard, you’d expect nothing less from a Bunting. He’s at his best when he plays freely and backs what he sees in front of him. We’ve seen that over the last part of the season.”

Bunting said:

“To have the chance to play for Donny means a lot to me and my family and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue wearing the Doncaster shirt. I’m very excited for next season and what we can go on to achieve.”

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce the signing of powerhouse Samoan prop Paul Masoe, who joins the club from Cambridge to strengthen the front row.

Masoe arrives at Castle Park after being a regular starter for Cambridge throughout the season. Despite a difficult campaign for the club overall, his scrummaging ability and physicality consistently stood out and caught the attention of many other Champ clubs. 

Impressive performances for New Zealand’s Marist club previously earned Paul international recognition with Junior Manu Samoa at Under-20 level.

Coming from a family with a strong rugby pedigree, Paul is the nephew of former All Black Chris Masoe, who enjoyed an outstanding professional career representing the likes of Wanganui, Taranaki, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Castres, Toulon, and Racing 92. Chris also claimed gold with the New Zealand Sevens squad at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Paul now makes the move to Doncaster Knights eager to continue developing his game and test himself in a new environment.

Head Coach Darren Fearn: 

“We’re excited to bring Paul into the club. He’s a young prop with Champ experience and Samoa U20s honours. He impressed against Ealing a few weeks ago and comes recommended by East Timor. Having Logo around the environment, with all his experience, will be huge for Paul’s development, a real role model.”

Speaking after signing for the club, he said:

“I’m really excited to join Doncaster Knights. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club. It’s going to be a good challenge and a great opportunity to improve my rugby further. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Doncaster Knights can confirm the following players will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Lewis Thiede – 107 Appearances 

Connor Edwards – 102 Appearances 

Conor Davidson – 88 Appearances

Joe Margetts – 85 Appearances 

Rhys Tait – 70 Appearances

Ehize Ehizode – 68 Appearances

Russell Bennett – 59 Appearances 

Thom Smith – 51 Appearances 

Ben Chapman – 39 Appearances 

Josh Williams – 25 Appearances

Matt McNab – 14 Appearances 

Darren Fearn and Sir Ian McGeechan have named their squad to face Nottingham in the final game of the 2025/26 season.

There are changes in the front row, with Conor Davidson starting at loosehead and Lewis Thiede coming in at tighthead. Ben Chapman retains the starting hooker shirt.

There is plenty of strength among the replacement front row, with Cole Keith and Logovi’i Mulipola set to make an impact from the bench alongside hooker Corey Tait.

In the second row, captain Ben Murphy returns to partner Morgan Jones. Jasper McGuire, Adam Hopkinson and Viliamu East Timor make up the back row.

Ehize Ehizode is named among the replacements alongside guest player Max Allen-Paver.

At half-back, Alex Dolly starts alongside Morgan Bunting, while Connor Edwards and Joe Margetts form the centre partnership. The back three sees Zach Kerr and Aidan Cross on the wings, with Russell Bennett selected at full-back.

Ollie Fox, Semesa Rokoduguni and Matt McNab complete the replacements as the reserve backs.

Secure your tickets now and support the team in there final game of the season.

SQUAD: 1. Conor Davidson,  2. Ben Chapman, 3. Lewis Thiede, 4. Ben Murphy (C), 5. Morgan Jones, 6. Jasper McGuire 7. Adam Hopkinson, 8. East Timor Viliamu, 9. Alex Dolly, 10. Morgan Bunting, 11. Zach Kerr, 12. Connor Edwards 13. Joe Margetts, 14. Aidan Cross, 15. Russell Bennett

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Corey Tait, 17. Logovi’i Mulipola, 18. Cole Keith 19. Ehize Ehizode, 20. Max Allan-Paver, 21. Ollie Fox,  22. Semesa Rokoduguni, 23. Matt McNab

Unavailable for selection: Josh Williams, Thom Smith, Telusa Veainu, Jordan Olowofela, Ryan Olowofela, Rhys Tait, Josh Bainbridge 

Doncaster Knights can confirm that Fred Davies will leave the club a week earlier than planned to provide short-term cover for Bristol Bears this weekend.

The hooker, who was already set to depart at the end of the season, will not be available for selection for the Knights in the final fixture as he joins up with the West country club this week. 

Davies leaves the club after two seasons, having made 41 appearances and playing a key role within the squad during his time at Castle Park.

Everyone at Doncaster Knights would like to thank Fred for his commitment and contributions over the past two years, and we wish him all the best for his time with Bristol and whatever comes next in his career.

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce that Zach Kerr has re-signed with the club in what is a major boost ahead of next season.

Kerr has been a standout performer throughout this campaign, finishing as the club’s top try scorer and establishing himself as one of the most consistent players in the squad. His versatility across the backline, featuring both on the wing and at centre, has made him a key asset for the Knights.

Remarkably, Kerr is the only player to have featured in every single game this season, amassing an impressive 1,820 minutes. His durability and consistency have been unmatched, following on from his debut season where he missed just three games.

Now a core part of the squad, Kerr continues to develop week on week. Having reached the milestone of 50 caps at the weekend, he is likely one of the quickest players in the club’s history to reach that landmark.

Head Coach Darren Fearn said:

“Zach has been one of the standout players this season, whether on the wing or at centre. Everyone sees how competitive and hard-working he is, but what often gets overlooked is his ability to finish opportunities and his understanding of the game defensively.

“He always wants to improve and is often the last one out, speaking with Geech about the game and where he can get better. That attitude is a big reason why he’s developed the way he has.”

“I can’t speak highly enough of him as both a player and a person.”

Kerr also shared his thoughts on extending his stay with the Knights:

“There are some exceptional people at this club who have shown faith in me and loyalty towards me. Ultimately, my job is to help Doncaster Knights win games of rugby and I am so driven to do this, and hopefully repay some of that faith and loyalty.”

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce that Telusa Veainu has re-signed with the club for his third season.

Arguably the most decorated player in the current squad, Veainu continues to showcase his class with quick feet and electric pace, remaining a constant attacking threat for the Knights.

Veainu began his rugby career in New Zealand, progressing through the ranks with Canterbury before representing New Zealand U20s at the 2010 World Championship. He enjoyed a standout tournament, scoring five tries, including a hat-trick in the final. He went on to break into the Canterbury first team, making 34 appearances and scoring 21 tries.

In 2015, he made the move to England to join Leicester Tigers, where he quickly established himself as one of the Premiership’s most exciting players. Over a five-year spell, he made 80 appearances and scored 32 tries, becoming a fan favourite and helping the club lift the Anglo-Welsh Cup during the 2016/17 season.

On the international stage, Veainu has represented Tonga, earning selection for both the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. Across his international career, he has earned 12 caps and scored eight tries, finishing as Tonga’s top try scorer at the 2019 tournament. Ahead of the 2020/21 season, Veainu moved to France to join Stade Français, where he remained a consistent performer, scoring 10 tries across three seasons in the capital.

He later returned to the north of England with Sale Sharks before joining Doncaster Knights. Since arriving at the club, Veainu has made 42 appearances and is set to reach the milestone of 50 next season.

Head Coach Darren Fearn said:

“Telusa’s talent is obvious to anyone who’s seen him play. What people don’t always see is the leadership and standards he brings to an environment. He’s a key driver of our environment and a brilliant example for our younger players. I am delighted he’s staying with us.”

Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce that scrum-half Ollie Fox has re-signed with the club for next season.

Fox has been integral to the Knights this campaign, showing significant development from last season and continuing to grow into a key figure within the squad. His tempo, quick thinking, and game understanding have made him a crucial part of the team’s performances.

A Yorkshireman, Fox joined the Yorkshire Carnegie rugby academy at the age of 14. He went on to make his Championship debut for the Leeds-based side during the 2016/17 season.

His performances earned him a move to Premiership outfit Bath ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, where he made 21 first-team appearances across three seasons at The Rec. During this time, he also represented England at Under-19 and Under-20 level, featuring in both the U20s Six Nations and U20s World Cup.

Fox joined Ealing Trailfinders for the 2022/23 season before returning to Yorkshire and joining the Knights. This season, he reached the milestone of 50 appearances for Doncaster Knights, further cementing his place as a key member of the squad.

Head Coach Darren Fearn:

“Foxy’s taken a big step this year as a player and leader. He brings real tempo through how he sees the game, and we saw that on Saturday.

His kicking game has become a real strength of his, credit to the work with Fordy. Off the field, he’s a big presence in the group and does a lot in schools within the community. We’re all delighted to have foxy with us again next season.”

Fox said: 

“I’m really happy to be staying at Doncaster. Very grateful to be able to continue my career in Yorkshire. Looking forward to what’s to come.”

Doncaster Knights scored five tries on the road to secure a five-point victory over Caldy.

It was East Timor Viliamu who opened the scoring for the Knights. After a cagey first 10 minutes, Doncaster finally broke through. Ben Chapman pounced on an overthrown lineout before moving the ball quickly. Strong carries from Connor Edwards, Viliamu, and Rhys Tait propelled Donny to the 5m line, where Viliamu powered over to score. 0–5.

Edwards then relieved pressure following a long defensive set, winning a turnover at the breakdown to allow Doncaster to exit their 22 and build another attack.

The centre soon added a try of his own. A slick backline move saw the ball shipped out to Zach Kerr on the wing, who drew in the defender before offloading to Fox. Fox quickly moved it on to Edwards, who finished under the posts. Bunting added the extras. 0–12.

Fox then got on the scoresheet himself. He combined well with Jasper McGuire, who ran a superb line at pace to slice through Caldy’s defence. With Fox in support, McGuire returned the pass, allowing the scrum-half to cross the line. 0–17.

Fox continued to influence the game, assisting another try by picking the ball from the base of a breakdown and carrying around the corner before passing to Hopkinson, who powered over. Bunting converted. 0–24.

Caldy opened the scoring in the second half with quick reactions to a loose ball. They chipped ahead, regathered, and moved it through the hands to create space and score. The conversion was added. 7–24.

Doncaster responded with a Bunting penalty, followed by a superb try from Jordan Olowofela. Cross gathered the ball and offloaded to Olowofela, who showed great pace to finish from just over halfway. Bunting added the extras. 7–34.

The hosts hit back with a second try, driving their maul over in the corner. 12–34.

The Knights worked hard to maintain control, with Kerr producing an excellent 50:22 to relieve pressure.

Caldy claimed their final try by spreading the ball wide and advancing down the wing before an inside pass to a replacement hooker allowed them to finish in the corner. 17–34.

A late penalty from Russell Bennett ensured Doncaster had the final say of the match.

Full-time score: 17–37.

The Knights now turn their attention to the remaining game of the season. We face Nottingham at Castle Park on Saturday 9th May. Secure your tickets here.