Doncaster Knights 2022/23 Leavers
19th May 2023
Doncaster Knights can confirm that 20 players will leave the club now that the 2022/23 season has drawn to a close.
In the forward pack, the departures will include Jake Armstrong, Bobby Bratton, Jared Cardew, Sam Daly, George Edgson, Will Holling, Sam Hudson, John Kelly, Kai Owen, Jake Pope, Martin Sigren, Thom Smith, Theo Vukasinovic, and James Wayland.
In the backline, the departures will include Joe Green, Alec Lloyd-Seed, Robbie Smith, Jack Spittle, Fraser Strachan, and Will Yarnell.
Head coach Steve Boden thanked all departing players for their contribution to the Knights shirt throughout their time at Castle Park.
“A massive thank you from myself, the club and the supporters for the hard work and the commitment you all put in throughout the 2022/23 season. It wasn’t an easy season to navigate through and I think, testament to all the players, we stuck in there together to make something of it all.
“I wish everybody all the best in the future – you are massively welcome, and hopefully we do see you, back at Castle Park for a beer at some time in the future.”
Jake Armstrong
Tighthead prop Jake Armstrong initially arrived from Premiership side Bristol Bears – where he had made 32 appearances since joining in 2018 – for a month-long loan in September 2022 before officially signing as a Knight. The front rower had also appeared as a Knight previously when he joined from Wharfedale in 2015.
Jake has made 23 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions.
Bobby Bratton
Tighthead prop Bobby Bratton signed for the Knights in February 2023 from Scottish Super6 side Watsonians hoping to progress in his personal game as well as add to the overall goals of the team.
Bobby made 3 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions. Bobby has now returned to Scotland to re-join Watsonians.
Jared Cardew
Back rower Jared Cardew signed for the Knights ahead of the 2022/23 season from Championship competition, Richmond, having originally moved there from Exeter University. Named as Richmond’s ‘Most Improved Player’ for last season, Jared was hoping to develop and grow as a player in a full-time rugby set-up in Doncaster.
Jared made 26 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring a try against Bedford Blues at home at Castle Park in October 2022.
Sam Daly
Back rower Sam Daly joined the Knights ahead of the 2022/23 season from Scottish Super6 league side, Watsonians, having excelled for the side and garnering attention from Edinburgh Rugby who signed him on a partnership deal.
Sam made 18 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 4 tries in the process.
George Edgson
Hooker George Edgson is a familiar face around Castle Park having played for the Knights in two different stints, his second seeing him return in the summer of 2021 as an integral part of the Knights pack. No stranger to the Championship, George has also spent time with Hartpury College, Rotherham Titans, Bedford Blues, Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey Reds.
George, throughout his two stints in Doncaster, made 48 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 14 tries in the process – including a hatrick against Nottingham in December 2021.
Joe Green
Scrum half Joe Green arrived in Doncaster in August 2021 from Yorkshire Carnegie having been with the side since 2018. The young back was called into England U20s camp in 2020 and captained Woodhouse Grove School in his childhood rugby.
Joe made 26 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 1 try in the process. Joe is now playing his rugby in Australia with Shute Shield side Southern Districts.
Will Holling
An original Doncaster Knights Academy star, hooker Will Holling became the third youngster to graduate to the first team in April 2019. Having spent time in Australia developing his game with Griffith University, Will returned to Yorkshire as a fully-fledged Knight and the home-town boy quickly became a fan-favourite.
Will made 54 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 16 tries in the process.
Sam Hudson
Back row Sam Hudson arrived at the Knights in August 2021 from Championship competition Ampthill after a standout campaign with the men from the woods in just their second season in the league. This was after the young flanker played a crucial role in the promotion-winning 2018/19 team, for which he was named in the Rugby Paper Team of the Season.
Sam made 32 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 5 tries in the process.
John Kelly
Back row and second row John Kelly signed for the Knights in summer 2021 from Plymouth Albion where he was one of the side’s most consistent performers, clocking up over 50 senior appearances. John was brought to Castle Park fitting the Knights’ want for a relatively untapped young talent looking to take his game to the next level.
John made 49 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 14 tries in the process. As previously announced, John will join Premiership side Newcastle Falcons for next season.
Alec Lloyd-Seed
Fly-half Alec Lloyd-Seed signed for the Knights ahead of the 2022/23 season from Super BUCS side Exeter University for whom he had made 18 appearances, scoring 99 points for his side. The young half-back started his time at the university with some tough competition for the 10 shirt before asserting himself as their go-to choice at fly-half.
Alec made 11 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 2 conversions in the process.
Kai Owen
Loosehead prop Kai Owen arrived in October 2022 from dismantled Premiership side Worcester Warriors. Having originally been part of the Warriors Junior Academy, Kai then gained experienced in senior rugby with Newport and North Midlands U20s before returned to the Worcester fold as a member of the Senior Academy.
Kai made 16 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions.
Jake Pope
Loosehead prop Jake Pope signed mid-season for Doncaster as an unregistered free agent, joining up with the Knights with immediate effect. The front rower had pulled on a Donny shirt before, originally back in 2017, in amongst his time engrossed in the Sale Sharks set-up as well as representing Sale FC.
Jake made 12 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions.
Martin Sigren
Back rower Martin Sigren signed for Doncaster in September 2022 from Super Liga Americana de Rugby side, Selknam Rugby, where he excelled for the Chilean side. The forward is a figurehead of Chilean rugby as he is the current international captain – a prominent contributor to the side’s historic victory over the USA which qualified them for their first ever Rugby World Cup in France 2023.
Martin made 24 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions.
Robbie Smith
Centre Robbie Smith signed for the Knights in the summer of 2022 from Championship competition, Hartpury, whom he originally signed for ahead of the 2019/20 season. For his many features in a Hartpury shirt, Robbie was previously elected to the Rugby Paper’s Championship Team of the Season. Before graduating to the Championship side, the back was also an integral part of the university’s Super BUCS team.
Robbie made 19 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 7 tries in the process.
Thom Smith
Back rower and this season’s co-captain Thom Smith arrived in Donny from Leicester Tigers where he previously captained the Welford Road outfit in the Premiership having been developed through their Academy system. The forward joined the Knights as a young player keen to secure regular game time to enable him to further develop his rugby and Thom has since thrived, excelling on the field and kindly interacting with fans off the field.
Thom made 35 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 8 tries in the process.
Jack Spittle
Winger Jack Spittle came to Doncaster in July 2020 having had a fantastic season with Nottingham which saw him named in the Rugby Paper’s Team of the Season. Having graduated from the successful Nottingham Trent University rugby partnership, Jack began his professional career with a first senior contract ahead of the 2017/18 season. Injury has thwarted most of his current season, but before this, his name was firmly on the scoring list.
Jack made 22 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 11 tries in the process.
Fraser Strachan
Centre Fraser Strachan made the switch to the Knights from Ealing Trailfinders in July 2021 having scored 3 tries in 3 appearances for the Londoners. Fraser developed his talent through the Northampton Saints Academy before making 4 senior appearances for the Premiership side and turning out for Northampton Wanderers in the A League. A serious injury ruled the young back out of the season in just Round 2 this year, unfortunately.
Fraser made 20 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions.
Theo Vukasinovic
Lock Theo Vukasinovic arrived in Doncaster from disbanded Premiership side Wasps in November 2022. The second rower originally joined the Premiership side ahead of the 2019/20 season having been a product of the London Irish Academy system – making his senior Irish debut against his future club in 2014. Theo had previous Championship experience with London Scottish as well.
Theo made 8 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 1 try in the process.
James Wayland
Loosehead prop James Wayland joined the Knights from Australian Shute Shield side, Eastwood, where he spent the 2021/22 season having played for Championship rivals Jersey Reds previously. Having had a successful campaign in the Shute Shield, the prop wanted the opportunity to join the Knights set-up and make the most of his time in Doncaster.
James made 12 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions. James has now returned to Australia to re-join Eastwood.
Will Yarnell
Scrum half Will Yarnell moved to Doncaster ahead of the 2022/23 season from Super BUCS side Exeter University for whom he had made 35 appearances, scoring 11 tries. As well as excelling for Exeter Uni, Will has experienced short bouts of Premiership rugby, appearing twice for Exeter Chiefs and twice for Leicester Tigers. And so, he was excited to transition straight from university into a full-time, professional environment with the Knights.
Will made 14 appearances as a Knight in the Championship league and cup competitions, scoring 2 tries in the process.
