LEIGH Leopards have signed Andrew Badrock from Swinton Lions on a two-year contract.

Badrock, who will be 24 later this month, has been a regular in the Lions’ side in each of the last two seasons.

Leopards’ head of rugby Chris Chester said: “Andrew is a player I’ve been looking at regularly over his two years at Swinton. He’s a good, athletic back rower who can also play centre.

“With losing Kai O’Donnell we need to get strength in depth in the back row position.

"He has really impressed with his performances for Swinton where he has often been a standout.

“Andrew is a player who I’m looking forward to seeing fit into our system in 2025.”

Badrock made a try-scoring debut for the Lions against Newcastle Thunder at the start of last season and went on to score a try in each of his first four professional games.

He finished his impressive inaugural season in the professional ranks by becoming Swinton’s top try-scorer with seven in 25 games.

The former Leigh Miners Rangers product has continued his progress in 2024 and is already nearing 50 senior appearances.

During his time in the community game, Badrock represented Lancashire and the England Community Lions.

Yesterday Leopards signed AJ Towse from York Knights.

Last season Towse was ever-present for the Knights, scoring 20 tries in 34 games, and earned his second nomination as Betfred Championship Young Player of the Year.

The York born winger has the impressive strike rate of 36 tries in 72 senior games.   Leopards’ head of rugby Chris Chester said: “AJ is only 21 but has really impressed at York over the past two seasons.

“He is already a proven try-scorer, and we are expecting big things of him at Leigh Leopards in 2025.”

A product of the Heworth community club, Towse won representative honours at University Rugby League and graduated from the University of York with a degree in computer sciences.

Towse was handed his first professional game off the bench as the Knights lost 26-0 at home to a Wigan Warriors side including Leopards’ assistant coach Tony Clubb in a Challenge Cup-tie in April 2021.

He became a regular in the Knights side the following season and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most exciting backs in the Championship.

AJ Towse is available to sponsor by contacting commercial@leighrl.co.uk