Griffin will get his playing boots on once more
Josh Griffin has made the move into rugby union(Image: SW PIx)
Former Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and York Knights man Josh Griffin has made the decision to dig out his playing boots once more and switch codes.
Griffin retired from rugby league in June after picking up a pectoral muscle injury while representing the Knights against Toulouse. The injury saw his season come to an end and with that, he made the decision to call time on his career as a professional player.
It was a decision that brought an end to an 18-year playing career, with Griffin aiming to move into a conditioning role next season.
However, after recovering from the injury that ended his spell with the Knights, the former back-rower has made the decision to play rugby union on a part-time basis with York RUFC.
York play in the fifth tier of English rugby union, the Regional 1 North East division, alongside the likes of Hull RUFC, Driffield, Scarborough and Ilkley, and they’ll be hoping the addition of Griffin can help them improve after fighting off relegation last time around.
Griffin is no stranger to rugby union and he even had a brief spell in the professional ranks with Leeds Carnegie earlier in his career. Between 2012 and 2014, he made 39 appearances for the club, who are now known as Leeds Tykes and play in the third tier. He also played union as a child.
The 36-year-old made 313 appearances during his time in rugby league and 143 of those outings came with Hull, where he won the Challenge Cup back in 2017. He had three different spells at Wakefield during his career, while he spent time with Batley Bulldogs, Huddersfield Giants, Castleford Tigers and Salford Red Devils.
York have also signed up former Hull FC academy man Reece Dean, who is also able to count Goole Vikings, Rochdale Hornets, Newcastle Thunder, Hunslet, Sheffield Eagles and Doncaster as his former clubs in the 13-man code.
Dean has joined York as a player/coach and he’ll be working with the club’s backs.