Stenchion signing props up front row

OLDHAM RL Club have moved to toughen up their front row with the capture of former Batley and Dewsbury prop Luke Stenchion.

The 25-year-old, who has signed for the remainder of the season, will have his first training session with the Roughyeds tomorrow night and will be expected to make his Oldham debut against London Skolars at Whitebank on Sunday week, April 17.

The Roughyeds regard Stenchion as an experienced front-rower who will add essential know-how to the side's engine room and take some of the strain off Jason Boults, Dave Ellison and Luke Sutton.

Said chairman Chris Hamilton: "We've been talking to him for several months.

"Other clubs were in for him, but he wasn't able to commit himself because he was studying hard for accountancy examinations.

"He has missed his rugby, but he is ready to get back into it again now. We are naturally delighted that he has come to Oldham.

"He has played all his rugby up to now in a higher division. He is a 100-per-cent sort of prop and an honest grafter. We have a young squad, but Luke will give us vital experience."

Originally a product of the Leeds Rhinos youth system, Stenchion was in the England Academy team which beat the Australian Schoolboys 33-24 on tour in 2004 to inflict their hosts' first-ever defeat on home soil.

Stenchion went on to have five successful seasons with Batley, playing 84 times for the first team, before he joined near neighbours Dewsbury for the 2010 season in which he made 21 appearances for the Rams, 18 of them in the Co-operative Championship.