Carl Burgess, 23, who has a three-month contract with the club, is hoping his height advantage will help him earn a first team place.

Second row forward Carl, a dad of two, was recommended to the Knights while playing for an amateur side in his home city Northampton and after taking part in some games at Cambridge.

He only took up the sport two years ago when he decided to find an outlet for his aggression which he confessed had led him to fall in with the wrong crowd. Carl pledged to seize the Doncaster opportunity, which he said had come as a surprise. He commented: "This is a chance to play some full-time rugby and work my heart out to prove myself, which is all I wanted.

"Whether I succeed or not, I've turned my life around and made myself a better person.

Carl takes over the title of Knights' tallest player from American international and former basketballer Luke Gross whose 6ft 10 ins frame shrank by two inches after injury meant he had to have two vertebrae removed (in his back).

Fans can see Carl in action, along with the rest of the Knights, as they take on Worcester Warriors on August 17 at the Keepmoat Stadium.