Whitehaven have taken their squad size to 16 with the acquisition of another south Cumbrian.

Tom Wilkinson, a 22-year-old loose forward with the National Conference side Askam, has signed a one-year deal at the Recreation Ground.

His arrival at the club comes within a week of Whitehaven’s capture of his Askam team-mate Sam Dowsett.

After completing the paperwork, Wilkinson said: "I’m very happy to sign professionally for the club and I’m excited about getting started.

"I will be looking at earning a position in the team and improving my game every week at a higher level."

Assistant coach Jonty Gorley was responsible for Wilkinson joining Whitehaven and he explained why he was targeted.

"I was coaching Tom when he was 15 at Lakes College and there was always something about him," he said.

"We played teams like St Helens and Tom was as good as anybody in the team.

"He was playing hooker then, and being a former hooker, I’ve always had a soft spot for players in that position but he had a lot more to his game.

"He’s turned from a nine to a 13 and is still the same 100 per cent player as he was then.

"I’m sure that he is going to be a very good acquisition to our squad."

One player who won’t be returning to Whitehaven in 2019 is talented second-row forward Ellis Gillam.

A south Cumbrian, now based in the Widnes area, Gillam was voted Whitehaven’s Young Player of the Year for his efforts last season.

Coach Gary Charlton said: "Ellis was under contract for 2019 but told the club he had changed jobs which made it impossible to travel up for training.

"Under the circumstances, the club released him and wished him all the best."

It appears that Gillam has been training with Carl Forster’s Rochdale Hornets and may be signing for the Championship side.