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, 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.

Doncaster-born, Lewis Thiede, began his junior rugby at Doncaster mini junior U7s and worked his way through the ranks, before being promoted to the Knights academy in May 2008. Developing good skills here, he signed for ex-Premiership club Wasps RFC in 2011, experiencing true professionalism in the sport.

At the end of the 2012/13 season, Lewis remained in London and joined fellow Championship club, London Scottish. Just the one season spent with the blues, he headed back to South Yorkshire, and joined Rotherham Titans who were also playing in the Championship at the time. Two seasons there, and another move was on the cards to newly promoted Ealing Trailfinders, Thiede really came into his own in West London, and even helped the team win the British and Irish Cup in his final season in 2017/18.

Lewis earned himself a bumper deal, signing for newly promoted Bristol Bears at the age of 28, and had an exciting two seasons at the West Country club, and even won the European Challenge Cup with the Bears in his final season.

Lewis returned to Ealing in 2020 in order to be closer to his partners family in London, and stayed with the club for three more season, playing just under 100 times for the Trailfinders. In the 2021/22 season, Lewis had an incredibly successful season, helping his side win the Championship title and cup, and individually, he was named in the Championship Team of the Season.

Lewis returned to the Knights for the 2023/24 season, donning the Oxford Blue for the first time in 12 years, he also reached his 50th cap for the Knights last season and hopes to boost his numbers and aid the team in showing them what it takes to win the Championship.

One of our Fijian-born players, Sai has had an unorthodox, but successful career playing rugby. He moved to the UK in 2013 on a rugby scholarship to Terrington Hall, in York, before moving to local school, Mount St. Mary’s, where he began to draw the attention of more regional associations. 

He represented Yorkshire from U15 level, all the way through to U20, demonstrating his ability and longevity. In 2020, he was brought into the Leicester Tigers’ academy and played for one season. After the effects of the pandemic, Sai relaunched his rugby career and joined the Knights academy in 2021/22.

After an injury-ridden season last year, Tobeyaweni was fortunate enough to be rewarded with a professional contract for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign. Impressing over pre-season, there is no doubt Sai will be a player to watch in the future, however, he like many of his team mates, will be moving joining Bury St. Edmunds on loan for the season to ensure consistent minutes in a week.

Andrew Turner is one of our loan players for this season, coming from Premiership side Bristol Bears, where he began in the academy aged just 15 before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2020.

Turner’s love for rugby started from a young age when he started playing at Weston-super-Mare RFC at the age of 13, standing out from the crowd as a determined and powerful player from the offset.

Andrew featured in the 2022 U20s Six Nations with England where he made 3 appearances for his country. Putting in some impressive displays, he was called to the other side of the world to join New Zealand club Crusaders on loan in the 2022/23 season after they experienced an injury crisis.

Having such experience at the age of 22 should help the Knights this season, but this loan stint should also improve Turner’s game with the experience of the other props in the squad.

Born in Wrexham, North Wales, George Roberts is considered somewhat of a veteran within the Doncaster Knights first team squad, as the 2024/25 season will be his fifth at Castle Park, culminating 67 caps during his tenure.

Roberts started his career for his birthplace rugby club, Wrexham RFC, where he played at junior level. He also made multiple appearances for the senior squad, before joining RGC 1404’s academy in 2016. He then signed his first club contract with the Colwyn Bay side and spent a successful season with them in 2019/20 in the Super Rygbi Cyrmu league.

After the COVID break, George was back playing rugby and was snapped up by Doncaster Knights in 2021 and made his debut for the club in March 2021 against Ampthill, and since then has been a constant within the squad, and we look forward to help George improve his game even more.

Born in Nausori, Fiji, Semesa “Roko” Rokoduguni has always been a rugby enthusiast. He began his career in the Army, playing rugby at an amateur level before representing the Army’s rugby team on multiple occasions.

In 2012, at the age of 25, Roko signed a professional contract with Bath Rugby and stayed with the Premiership club for an amazing 10 seasons, playing 194 times for the club and scoring 71 tries. In 2022, he then moved to French D2 side, US Montauban, to ease into the end of his playing career.

While balancing his rugby with a career in the Army, Roko holds the rank of Lance Corporal and also served in Afghanistan. To top off an exciting life, Semesa also represented England on four occasions, scoring four times, with his debut being against the All Blacks in the 2014 Autumn Internationals.

We welcome Roko to Castle Park with open arms, as he comes to the end of his rugby career, and hope he has a successful and impactful season.