WHO HAS PLAYED FOR BOTH: London Broncos and Featherstone Rovers
Jake Watson • 22 February 2025
WHO HAS PLAYED FOR BOTH: London Broncos and Featherstone Rovers
London Broncos have enjoyed many tough encounters with Championship rivals Featherstone Rovers over the years and that rivalry will be renewed on Sunday as the two sides meet at The Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Jordan Williams will return to Wimbledon for the first time as an opposing player this weekend after graduating from the Broncos academy and going on to play 85 times.
But who else has played for both? We have taken a look at SOME of those to have done it. Can you name any more?
Wellington Albert
The popular PNG prop was at Featherstone for the 2024 season after two seasons in London. Albert played 42 times for Broncos in Wimbledon and quickly became a fans favourite, featuring in the run which saw the club promoted back to Super League. The 30-year-old also had two loan spells at Featherstone whilst at Leeds before coming to London in 2022.
Ikram Butt
Ikram is a real legend of the sport having become the first british asian to play for England in either codes of rugby after playing for England in 1995 whilst representing Featherstone Rovers. Butt was born in Leeds and came through at his hometown club of the Rhinos but it was at Featherstone where he would really make his mark in the game playing 168 times. He would then leave in 1995 to join London Broncos before moves to Huddersfield and Hunslet at the end of his career.
Dean Parata
We welcome Dean back to The Cherry Red Records Stadium as our special guest this afternoon. The Aussie born Italian had three stellar years in London as a vice captain, promotion winner and Championship Player of The Year. Prior to coming to Wimbledon Parata played for Barrow, Toulouse and Featherstone. Parata made the decision to retire at the end of last season but will receive a warm welcome in the Legends Lounge on Sunday.
Ben Hellewell
Hellewell enjoyed a fine career that took him to a number of professional rugby league clubs but it was probably both Broncos and Featherstone where he is best remembered. Starting out at Warrington he didn’t make a first team appearance but after a couple of loan spells it was Featherstone where Hellewell would make his mark permanently. However after a year it was a move to London and this time over 100 appearances spanning across 4 years was the Bradford born man’s longest spell at any club. After leaving London in 2019 Hellewell would eventually return to Featherstone for another season in 2022.
Chris Hankinson
A player who is currently playing in Super League with Salford Red Devils but has successfully played for both Broncos and Featherstone. Although it was just a short loan spell in London for Hankinson, he left a good impression with 6 tries and 120 points in just 11 games. A year in France with Toulouse followed a move to Featherstone Rovers and despite winning the league leaders shield in 2023, Hankinson and Rovers would be beaten by the Broncos in the play-off semi finals.
Morgan Smith
We are likely to face Smith this season with the Featherstone born man now playing for Craig Lingard’s Sheffield Eagles. After coming through at Warrington, Smith came to London in 2019 playing in both Super League and Championship. Smith’s best season came in the 2022 season whilst at Featherstone where he would score 22 tries in 30 games.
WHO HAS PLAYED FOR BOTH? London Broncos & York Knights London Broncos play host to York Knights on Saturday but can you tell me what players that have had both clubs play host to them? We have picked out some to have played for both in recent years but can you add any more to the list below? SAM DAVIS A London Broncos academy product, the Leicester born hooker has enjoyed two spells in the capital, sandwiched either side of a spell in the yellow and black of York. Davis played for London between 2016-2021 before moving to York signing a two year deal, however injuries meant he never really settled and rejoined London in 2023 initially on loan before signing permanent terms. Following relegation from Super League at the end of the 2024 season Davis would move to Salford however financial issues there has meant Davis has once again signed dual-registration terms. So, whilst it won’t be this weekend we could see more of Sammy in a Broncos jersey in the future.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: London Broncos vs York Knights Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad to face York Knights on Saturday (5pm KO) at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Jenson Binks returns to the squad after missing the defeat to Halifax under HIA protocol in a welcome boost. Meanwhile, Lukas Mason & Kian McDermott return from Wigan Warriors after being unavailable for the previous few games. Emmanuel Waine plays the second game of his two week loan and Lennie Ellis joins Louix Gorman in coming from Hull KR and goes straight into the 21. Lennie Ellis is a 19-year-old half and hooker who made his first team debut against Wigan Warriors in 2023. Last season he played on loan in the Championship with Whitehaven and earlier this season played for Goole in League One.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: London Broncos MAGIC! On the eve of this year's Magic Weekend what better time to re-live our spectacular performance in the 2024 showpiece. London Broncos vs Hull FC was the opening game of the Weekend at Elland Road with both sides desperately looking to avoid finishing bottom of the division. Whilst The Black & Whites would finish off bottom spot by points difference it was Mike Eccles' side who would take the plaudits at Magic Weekend with a 29-4 win. Re-live the day with some of the best images and the video highlights below. #WeAreLondon
ANNOUNCEMENT: Sheffield Eagles match moved to Rosslyn Park FC London Broncos can confirm that the upcoming match with Sheffield Eagles on May 11th will now take place at Rosslyn Park FC. The decision has been made due to the uncertainty of the availability around The Cherry Red Records stadium with AFC Wimbledon potentially in play-off action on this date. Despite no current game definitely taking place on this date we have decided to make the decision now to avoid any late changes and allow fans from both teams to arrange necessary travel arrangements. The venue of the club's training ground at Rosslyn Park FC has been chosen to host this fixture due to its familiarity to supporters and players and therefore retaining home advantage. Rosslyn Park FC was the Club’s home ground during the 2021 season and has since been used to host fixtures for the London Broncos Women and the men’s Challenge Cup & 1895 Cup fixtures.
SULLIVAN SHIELD MATCH The 5th John Sullivan Trophy will take place on Saturday, May 24th at Harpenden Rugby Club. The game takes place in memory of former London Broncos academy player John Sullivan who tragically took his own life in 2014. The event aims to raise awareness of the issue of young male suicide and the importance of mental health more generally, in addition to raising funds for the Sullivan family’s chosen charity CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably .
IT'S GAMEWEEK!! London Broncos return to The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday as we welcome York Knights to SW17 for Round 9 of the 2025 Championship campaign. The Broncos, who lost their first home league game of the season, in the previous home game against Batley will be looking to right those wrongs with a much needed win. The visitors currently sit in 6th place in the league table following 4 wins and 4 defeats from their opening 8 games. The game will take place on Saturday with a 5pm kick off with gates opening at 3pm. Ticket information and details can be found below.
Paul Sykes breaks another record! London Broncos all-time record points scorer Paul Sykes has become the first player in history to play in 27 consecutive seasons – and according to the Rugby League Record Keepers Club, that’s a new record. Sykes, who will turn 44 in August and was a member of the England squad for the 2008 World Cup, made his first competitive appearance of the 2025 season for Dewsbury Rams in Sunday’s Betfred League One fixture against Rochdale Hornets. And the man who previously held that record is Gus Risman, the Welsh Rugby League great who was a founder member of the sport’s Hall of Fame, having come north to play for Salford in 1929, then moved to Cumbria after the War to make more than 300 appearances for Workington Town, leading them to Wembley victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final.
FULL MATCH REPLAY: Halifax Panthers vs London Broncos You can now watch back the full 80 minutes of London Broncos Championship trip to Halifax at The Shay. #WeAreLondon
HIGHLIGHTS: Halifax Panthers vs London Broncos You can now watch the highlights from the Round 8 Championship clash with Halifax Panthers below. #WeAreLondon
MATCH GALLERY: Halifax Panthers vs London Broncos Another tough afternoon on the road for Mike Eccles' side as they lost to Halifax Panthers at The Shay. You can now take a look at the best images from the day below. Credit: Simon Hall #WeAreLondon
