James started his rugby career playing at his local rugby club Billingham RFC, based in Stockton-upon-Tees, and worked his way through the age groups.
Moving his rugby focus a little further south, he was part of the Yorkshire set-up and represented the county at U18 and U20, all the while joining the Doncaster Knights’ academy in 2022. He has made a fair few appearances for the Phoenix, and had a loan spell at Leeds Tykes at the end of last season to gain some valuable game time.
Putting in impressive displays, he was gifted with a promotion and pro contract by the Knights and will begin his first season in 2024/25. We all hope James’s height and physical prowess help us in all our efforts this season.
Adam began his rugby career at Sandal RUFC, starting out as a young lad and eventually being promoted to the senior squad in 2017.
Hopkinson was part of the Yorkshire set-up, representing them at county level and playing for Carnegie at Under 16s and 18s. While focusing on his studies, he was playing his rugby for Gloucestershire and had the honour of captaining them from 2018 to 2020.
In this same time period, Adam was also chosen to captain the South West County U20s, displaying high levels of leadership from a very young age. To top off a brilliant period in his career, he was named Player of the Year for Gloucestershire.
He then made the move back up north and joined Doncaster Phoenix, before returning to his boyhood club of Sandal. From there he was introduced into the Knights’ academy set-up and has been a constant at Castle Park.
Adam made his debut for the Knights in February 2023 in an impressive Championship Cup game against Coventry. He made a further 5 appearances for the Knights that season and signed his first pro contract with them for the start of 2023/24 campaign. He also had a rogue game for Leicester Tigers last season, which helped develop his professional further.
We are happy to welcome Adam back this season, as a local Yorkshireman and someone who epitomises the clubs’ ethos, we are sure he will aid the club in all their efforts this season, both on and off the pitch.
Born in Wales, second row Ben Murphy was a product of the regional pathways in Wales, beginning his rugby career at Abercynon for their junior squads, and played there until he was 18.
In 2014, he then signed for Merthyr RFC, who at the time, were in the Welsh Championship. Murphy had a successful 3 years at the South Walian side, aiding in their epic success by winning the Championship in his second season and immediately winning the Welsh Premiership the season after.
In 2017, Ben was spotted by URC team, Cardiff Blues, and that was where he spent a lengthy period of his career. It was part-way through the 2021/22 season that Murphy ended his contract early with the Welsh capital, and made his way up to Doncaster in the November after only making 19 appearances for Cardiff.
Ben is now one of the longest serving members of the current squad, and on 43 caps for the Knights, will surely hit his half century for the club this season. A silent leader within the squad, everyone in the forwards looks up to Ben (literally!), setting an exemplary standard in training, and as a result, has been rewarded with the role of captaincy this season.
Born, raised, and proud to be Cornish, Cory Teague is a new addition to Castle Park this season. Beginning his rugby for his local club, Wadebridge Camels, and where he continued for his whole run in their junior section.
He has represented Cornwall as a county from U13 level and continued right up until U20! An incredible achievement. During his time playing for his county, he was snapped up by Exeter Chiefs’ academy and joined their system at U16 level, before signing his first pro contract with them at the age of 19.
Teague spent a total of 6 years on Chiefs’ roster, and played for them 12 times in all, and even has Premiership Cup medal in his cabinet. During his time at Sandy Park, Cory spent a combined three years on loan at the his home county, Cornish Pirates, totting up 47 caps in all.
Towering over the rest of the squad at 6’6, Cory will be a brilliant addition into the second row this season, and with his vast experience, he will sure to be an important player in this Knights squad for the 2024/25 campaign.
Born in Teesside, Josh is an experienced rugby player considering his age, accumulating accolades such as Under 18 and Under 20 England appearances. Josh developed his love for rugby while at Hartpury College, before signing his first professional contract with his local Premiership club, Newcastle Falcons.
Williams then put his rugby on the back-burner and moved into a career with the Royal Marines, but has represented the Royal Navy’s rugby team on numerous occasions.
In 2021, Josh Williams was ready to resume his professional rugby career, and joined Cornish Pirates, however, his season was cut very short due to a long-term injury but came back better than ever in the 2022/23 campaign.
Last season, Josh only played four times as he continued to balance his career as an active serving member of His Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos, but is ready and raring to go for the upcoming campaign with the Knights, and help us spearhead to new heights as a club.
Born in Fiji, Taniela Ramasibana is coming to Castle Park as a bit of an unknown entity amongst British fans, but was scouted by the Knights due to his ability to play across the second row and back row, his size, strength and power.
Beginning his career in his motherland of Fiji, Taniela developed his skills here before being noticed and recommended to move to France in 2019 to French side USA Perpignan, who at the time were playing in the second-tier, Pro D2. He was then called up to Fiji’s Under 20s squad in the same year.
Ramasibana was part of the Perpignan squad who were promoted and champions of the Pro D2 league. He then gained valuable experience with the team having two seasons in the Top 14 league, before moving back home at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Having returned home, Taniela joined Super Rugby Pacific team, Fijian Drua, for a season where he honed in on his skills and helped the team finish 7th in the 2024 season.
We are delighted to have Taniela here this season and hope his time in Doncaster and the English rugby set-up is a lengthy period.
At just the age of 23, Archie Smeaton has had a very successful playing career. Born in the East Riding village of Cottingham, he played his youth rugby for Hull Ionians and school rugby at Hymers College, where he developed his game and established himself as somewhat of a brick wall.
Smeaton then moved on to focus on his studies and incredibly got into Cambridge University, studying Natural Sciences, and continued his rugby there, donning their iconic Cambridge blue and white, and even played in the famous Varsity Match against Oxford, at Twickenham.
On two occasions, Archie was called up internationally at U18 level, representing both England and Scotland. However, after developing his game at Cambridge, he decided to stick to his Scottish routes, and eventually got selected for their U20 squad in 2021 for the Six Nations.
After assigning himself to the Scottish side, he was brought into the Glasgow Warriors academy, and later signed a professional contract with them in 2022 upon completing his university studies. After only a brief stint there, he returned to Yorkshire and had his first season with Doncaster last year, where he made an incredible impact and was voted Supporters’ Player of the Season.
Everyone both at the Knights and in the fanbase are delighted to have Archie for another season, and we all hope his tenure at Castle Park is a lengthy one.
Thom began his rugby career at the young age of 9, playing for Bury St. Edmunds minis and juniors, and worked his way through the age groups.
He then secured his first professional contract at the young age of 18 in 2018 for Leicester Tigers, securing his Premiership and European debuts in the same season. At the start of the 2019/20 season, Smith went on a short loan stint at Yorkshire Carnegie for the first half of the season, before returning to Welford Road.
While at the Tigers, Smith became their youngest Premiership captain, and holds that record to this day. In December 2021, he left Leicester and joined the Knights, making a great impression on the squad and the fans, as he was issued co-captaincy the following season.
For the 2023/24 season, Thom joined Jersey Reds, however this stint was short lived due to their unfortunate financial issues. He took the rest of the season to work on his rugby and improve his game, and is back at Castle Park with a vengeance to push the boys to new heights this season. Everyone at the Knights is delighted to welcome Thom back for this upcoming season.
Born in Bridgend, Wales, Morgan has had an illustrious career prior to his move to Castle Park this season.
He was spotted at an early age and introduced into the Ospreys academy from Under 16 level, working his way through the ranks of their set-up, allowing his skills to flourish.
In 2020, Strong had the honour of being selected for the Wales U20 squad for the Six Nations, after a stint in the U19 squad the year before. While he balanced his time in the Ospreys academy and senior squad, he was also playing for his home team, Bridgend, in the Welsh Premiership, which he took great pride in doing, as it was also where his dad, Nathan Strong, played.
Ahead of the 2022/23 season, Morgan signed for Championship side, Ampthill, and made a signifcant impact in their squad, ending that campaign in the Championship Team of the Season.
Last season, Morgan was named as Ampthill’s captain and led them to a 7th-place finish, just one below Doncaster. This season, he decided to put pen to paper with the Knights, and we have no doubt that he will boost the team up the table as we search for more success.
Born in the small town of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, Rhys started his rugby career with Hawick minis along with his education at Hawick High School where he developed his skills.
He then moved on a scholarship to prestigious rugby school, Sedbergh, where he continued to develop his game, and was rewarded with international caps at his age group.
Tait represented Scotland at Under 16 and Under 18 level, before having the honour of captaining the Under 20 team at the 2021 Six Nations.
Thanks to his performances in the U20s Six Nations, Rhys signed his first professional contract with Glasgow Warriors and worked his way through the academy. Up against the likes of Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge, Rhys came to Doncaster on loan towards the back end of the 2022/23 season, before signing a full-time contract with the Knights last season.
We are fortunate enough to have Rhys again for the 2024/25 campaign, who is such a dedicated and experienced player, and he will certainly find himself as a regular starter this season.
Born and raised in Australia, Alex Dolly, who is an English Qualified Player through his grandfather, initially moved to the UK in 2017 to play cricket before getting the rugby-bug with Fylde. He then moved from the West coast and made the transfer to fellow South Yorkshire side, Rotherham Titans in 2018.
After a stellar season with the Titans, playing 29 matches and scoring 203 points, he moved up a league and joined Nottingham in 2019, however, the pandemic disrupted his time at The Archers, only playing 30 times in his two-year stint, but appearing in the Championship Clubs Podcast’s Team of the Season for 2020/21.
In 2021, Alex made the move to Castle Park and since then has never looked back. 69 caps and 12 tries later, Dolly is still a constant within this Knights squad and a true leader to everyone. Having developed key relationships with players and coaches alike, he is someone who everyone looks to in big moments.
Coming into his 4th season with the Knights, we are delighted to still have Dolly in the squad. Both his abilities on and off the field should be inspirational to the younger members of the squad making their way through the ranks.
