Squad Numbers and Leadership Group Announced
18/01/2023
Sheffield Eagles can reveal their Squad Numbers and in-house Leadership Group ahead of the 2023 season.
Following on from last year, the Club Captain and Vice Captain will be Anthony Thackeray and Joel Farrell respectively.
When making the announcement to the squad, Director of Rugby Mark Aston joked: “Please try and keep on the field for the full 80 minutes, you two numpties. That'd be lovely."
As part of the Leadership Group; Tyler Dickinson, Kris Welham and Ben Jones-Bishop remain but will be joined by Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e.
Dickinson, Welham and Jones-Bishop were the cornerstone of the squad last year, all playing in the majority of games and consistently brilliant.
The squad numbers were also announced by Aston but the players were assured that only the best performers would get the call for the first league game against Halifax.
From last year’s contingent, Welham moves from number 19 to three while last year’s three - Connor Bower - bags himself a second-row shirt at 11.
Vila Halafihi had an outstanding 2022 at hooker, often doing 80-minutes, and he’ll take the number nine shirt.
Of the new signings; Titus Gwaze takes Halafihi’s 14 jersey, Aaron Murphy (18), Jack Hansen (19), Lewis Peachey (20), Oliver Roberts (24), Joe Hird (25), Jesse Sene-Lefao (27), Matty Dawson-Jones (28), Laulu-Togaga’e (29), Mekhi Bridgeman-Reaney (30) and Cory Aston (32).
Full Squad:
1 - Josh Guzdek
2 - Ben Jones-Bishop
3 - Kris Welham
4 - Ross Oakes
5 - Jason Bass
6 - Izaac Farrell
7 - Anthony Thackeray
8 - Brandon Douglas
9 - Vila Halafihi
10 - Tyler Dickinson
11 - Connor Bower
12 - Joel Farrell
13 - Evan Hodgson
14 - Titus Gwaze
15 - Mikey Wood
16 - Blake Broadbent
17 - Liam Kirk
18 - Aaron Murphy
19 - Jack Hansen
20 - Lewis Peachey
21 - Ryan Johnson
22 - Matty Chrimes
23 - Bayley Liu
24 - Oliver Roberts
25 - Joe Hird
26 - Ben Sheils
27 - Jesse Sene-Lefao
28 - Matty Dawson-Jones
29 - Quentin Laulu-Togaga'e
30 - Mekhi Bridgeman-Reaney
32 - Cory Aston