Last updated at 12:54, Monday, 28 January 2013

French international Sebastien Martins will be available for Whitehaven’s Championship opener against visitors York City Knights on Sunday.

The huge prop, who had stints with Hull KR and Leigh Centurions, turned out for Haven in their final pre-season match in Carcassonne on Friday night and signed the next day. He is expected to sort out a few matters in France over the next few days and be at the Recre for training on Thursday.

“He’s a powerful runner and good off-loader. Our other players see him as a real bonus and are delighted he has signed,” said chief executive Barry Richardson, who thanked the club’s Vice Presidents for their assistance in funding the signing. “He was not on the field for a massive amount of time against Carcassonne but still showed how good he is. And he was really keen to sign for us.”

Haven agreed terms with the ex-Catalans Dragons man before they touched down in France last week but did not publicise their plan so as not to alert rival clubs to his availability.

“We still intend to bring in Rodney Pora but Seb was a readily available, quality player,” added Richardson.

Papua New Guinean Pora, another international prop, is awaiting a visa and is due at the Recre next month.

Stand-off Jamie Rooney missed the French trip with a minor knee injury but is expected to be fit to face York.

First published at 12:53, Monday, 28 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk