Doncaster RLFC ditch dual registration partnership with Hull FC

The partnership was officially launched ahead of the 2014 season and has allowed the Dons to field some of the Black and Whites’ most promising young players and fringe men.

But, after conducting a review into their latest failed attempt to win promotion back to the Championship, Doncaster have called time on the link-up.

Head coach Richard Horne has also left his role as assistant coach at Hull and will now be solely focused on the Dons.

Horne and his predecessors have had access to some quality players from Hull thanks to the partnership.

But it has not always worked as smoothly as originally hoped, with issues around availability, training, team selection and continuity.

Doncaster recently suffered defeat in the play-off semi-finals for the second season running, consigning them to a fifth successive year in League One.

“We will not be renewing the dual-reg partnership going forward,” Dons chief executive Carl Hall told the club’s official website.

“With Super League’s decision to run a reserve competition next season, myself and head coach Richard Horne felt it was time for us to stand alone and have a bigger squad of our own to call on.

“We will also have the option of the loan market if needed.

“The boys who have come down and pulled on the Dons jersey have always given 100 per cent whenever called upon and we thank them.

“I would also like to thank Lee Radford and the Hull FC club for the past few years and wish them all the best.

“We move on now and look forward to next season, one which will see us begin a new chapter on and off the field.”

Kyle Kesik, Jordan Howden, Connor Bower, Connor Scott, Richie Owen, Callum Ogden and Stefanos Bastas have all departed the Dons as Horne gets to work on re-shaping his squad.