York Knights back Matty English with 2027 deal after injury-hit loan
York Knights have signed prop Matty English permanently for the 2027 season, backing him to recover from a serious knee injury.
English, a front-row forward who leads the hard carrying and tackling through the middle, first joined York on loan from Huddersfield Giants earlier this season. He was hurt only days after arriving, cutting short his first taste of life at the club, according to BBC Sport.
He has yet to play properly for them. York have signed him anyway.
The decision gives the 28-year-old a fresh start. He was due to be out of contract at Huddersfield after the 2026 season, with no new deal on offer from the Super League club, rugby league's top division.
English came through Huddersfield's academy and stayed for 10 seasons. He made his first-team debut in 2017 and went on to make 157 appearances for the Giants.
Head coach Mark Applegarth said English is expected to return in the first two or three months of next season as he works back from knee surgery. Head knocks and serious joint injuries are treated cautiously in rugby league, and long rehabs of this kind are measured in months rather than weeks.
York confirmed the permanent switch to the LNER Community Stadium, their home in the city, for 2027 on the club website, according to York RLFC.
He is the latest player to commit to York for next year, following earlier recruits including Cameron McInnes, Max Jowitt, Zak Hardaker and Blake Lawrie, according to the Yorkshire Post.
For fans, this means patience now for payoff later. York will start next season without a proven front-rower, then hope to welcome back a player with almost a decade of top-flight experience just as the campaign settles down.
