Ex-Leeds Rhinos man leaves Featherstone Rovers to link up with Castleford Tigers legend at Championship club
Former Leeds Rhinos forward King Vuniyayawa has left Featherstone Rovers to join one of their second tier rivals.
The 30-year-old Fijian will play for Newcastle Thunder in the new-look Championship next season. He spent 2021 as a Leeds player before spells at Salford Red Devils and on loan with Hull FC. He joined Rovers, who recently went into administration, a year ago.
“I’m really excited to be joining Newcastle Thunder for the upcoming season,” Vuniyayawa said. “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to playing my part in helping the team achieve success. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club and the support here and I’m ready to contribute my best to the squad.
Thunder finished bottom of League One last term, losing all their 18 games, but are aiming for better things in 2026 under new coach Graham Steadman. The Castleford Tigers legend said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have King on board. His experience, passion and work ethic are exactly what we need to complement our squad moving forward.
“He is a proven player at both the domestic and international levels and I’m confident King will make a big impact with us. We are building something special here in the north east and King’s arrival is a fantastic addition to that.”
League One and the Championship have been merged to form a new second division next season. Thunder visit Midlands Hurricanes in round one on Sunday, January 18.