Workington Town have bolstered their outside backs with the signing of former Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants youth prospect Alex Young.

The 20-year-old talent, who has also played for England Youth, has been playing for Northumbria University, the UK University champions for the last two years.

Young, who is an imposing 6ft 6in tall and weighs in at 100kg, has been playing on the wing but is comfortable anywhere in the backline.

Head coach Chris Thorman said: "Alex is a player that came through the ranks at the Huddersfield Giants.

"As a 6ft 6in outside back with an eye for the try line he stood out for obvious reasons, but Alex offers more than just that – he’s a hard-working and diligent young man, who I really enjoyed working with and is ready to prove himself in senior rugby league.

"I highlighted when I arrived that we needed to strengthen our outside backs and that the players that played in that position initially were quite small in stature.

"The players we have brought in are all big, athletic lads that have good skill and positional understanding and Alex ticks those boxes.

"We’re all excited to watch Alex progress in 2020.’’

Young added: "My motivation for signing is the excitement of a new challenge, improving under a great coach and proving myself at this level.

"I’ve really enjoyed training with the lads over the last few weeks and everyone has made me feel very welcome."

The outside backs were a unit identified by Thorman early in his reign as somewhere to strengthen and he outlined his plans to target recruitment for that group in pre-season.

At the start of November, he said: “I highlighted outside backs because I thought our strength in depth wasn’t great.

“I wanted more balanced and well-rounded outside backs that could play in a few positions.”

Town are set to get their pre-season friendlies under way as they ramp up their preparations ahead of the League 1 opener at home to London Skolars on February 16.

They travel to the Recreation Ground hoping to defend the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy on January 19, then visit Barrow Raiders the following weekend.

This week's Town Flyer £100 lottery winners: Mr N Bond, High Harrington, A1365; Mr E Howe, Workington, B9011; Mrs L Ferris, Workington, F6888; Mr N Pitts, Cockermouth, B8187; Mrs Sanderson, Aspatria, D5087.