With a mix of pride and disbelief we announce that 33-year-old back-row forward, Callum Rogers, decided to call it a day and retire after our memorable 26-33 bonus point away win at Wetherby at the weekend, having spent six seasons with Pontefract RUFC from 2019.

He first picked up a rugby ball on a cold and muddy Sunday morning in Abercynon in the Rhondda Valley north of Cardiff as a junior and has played the game he loves, through matches that turned to seasons and seasons that became decades, ever since.

Callum moved across the border to work as an Account Manager in Leeds in 2017, playing firstly for Morley alongside Tim Spears, but it was former Wales RL international Larne Patrick (remember Larne?) who brought Callum to Pontefract in 2019. Since then, he has been an ever-present first XV player, playing an impressive 107 games in total for the Club, officially in the back row but, when needs must, moving forward into the second row and occasionally, due to his strength a size, front row.

‘Stand-out moments’ explains Callum ‘are the back-to-back promotions from Yorkshire 1 to Regional NE2 then NE1. Alongside those heady days, there have been some victories that have felt like miracles and a bunch of defeats that felt like tragedies. But there has always the challenge of next week to look forward to.’

‘I’d like to thank everyone at Pontefract for giving me such a welcome and sense of belonging; the coaches that tried to make me a better player (if not faster!); the physios that patched me up and taped whatever body part was falling off that week; and, of course, my teammates past and present for their camaraderie, banter, support and understanding and the unforgettable memories’.

It’s been a pleasure and privilege to have Callum wear the shirt of Pontefract, an adopted Yorkshiremen with a Welsh accent. The members wish him the very best for the future. Like Lundy, have a great summer and we’ll see you for pre-season training?