Winter signing Kurt Maudling has suffered an injury blow just as he was starting to establish himself in the Whitehaven squad.

The former Cumbria and St. Benedict’s rugby union centre suffered a double fracture of the wrist during Sunday’s League One home game with Hemel Stags. He started in the second-row,and will be out of action for between a month and six weeks.

Whitehaven director Mark Stamper said: “It’s a great shame for Kurt because he was just starting to make his presence felt in the squad. He had played at London Skolars and started against Hemel.

“It always takes time when a rugby union player comes to league and he was getting used to the switch, improving all the time. The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for him.

“But he is making a good professional and will look after himself, coming back determined to carry on from where he left off.”

Whitehaven get a breather now with no league games at the weekend, as Barrow Raiders take on the North Wales Crusaders at Blackpool in the final of the League Cup.

Sunday’s win over Hemel put Whitehaven level on points with Barrow in second place in the league table.

Both have six more league games to fit in before they meet in what could be a decisive clash at the Recreation Ground on July 16.

It will be the final game of the regulation season and, although Toronto are almost certain to be still out at the top, the Cumbrian pair could still be battling for second place ahead of the Super Eights part of the season.