Doncaster Knights packing down with a Transatlantic accent

Doncaster Knights boss Clive Griffiths is close to finalising his forward pack for next season’s Championship campaign with a second Canadian lock thought to be on his way to Castle Park.
Having already secured the services of Jon Phelan, the 6ft 8in 16-cap Canada international, The Rugby Paper understands that Griffiths is keen to add Tyler Hotson to the second row mix.
Hotson, 29, is well-versed in Championship rugby having played for three seasons at Plymouth before moving to London Scottish where he made 20 appearances in helping them to fifth place in 2013/14. He has been capped 40 times by his country and appeared at the last World Cup.
Griffiths knows both players well from his time as defence coach of the Maple Leafs – a position he has since relinquished to concentrate on making the Knights a competitive force in tier two.
The Welshman is still on the lookout for another lock after plans to bring Macclesfield man-mountain, Dean Williams to South Yorkshire came to nothing.
Griffiths had hoped to sign a third Canadian, prop Hubert Buydens, but restrictions on the number of foreign players who can be fielded in the Championship meant any deal was a non-starter, much to the former Wales international’s frustration.
Griffiths told TRP: “You can have four non-EQP players but only two overseas which is stupid in my opinion. All six should just be classed as overseas.
“We’re okay to sign Romanians and Italians, people with European passports, but can someone please come up with a proper argument and tell me what difference does it really make?”
Rotherham prop Colin Quigley was the first of ten signings planned by Griffiths, who also confirmed that Nottingham back-rower Alex Shaw has come on board.
And Griffiths will feel as though he has two new signings in No.8 Phil Eggleshaw and prop Tom Davies, who missed most of last season through injury. “The forward pack is nearly done now and I’m just looking at a few different options in the backs,” Griffiths confirmed.
“When you look at Paul Jarvis, Mat Clark, Bevon Armitage, Tyson Lewis, Paul Roberts etc, they are all Championship players, so we’re not looking to make too many changes.”
Doncaster reported back for pre-season training this week after six weeks off.
Glen Kenworthy and Paul Cooke remain as forwards and skills/backs coaches but Griffiths could be looking for a new scrum coach after he confirmed former Wales prop Darren Morris has moved on.
JON NECOMBE
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on June 22.