New Dons' player-coach Paul Cooke has added former Hull KR teammate and playmaker Scott Spaven to his 2014 Championship squad.

Spaven played a full season in Championship One for Doncaster back in 2011 after he left the Robins at the end of the 2010 season where he made two substitute appearances in the Super League competition.

The 23 year-old mainly operates at scrum half but can also play hooker and has been playing for West Hull after leaving fellow Championship club Dewsbury earlier in the season. Spaven played against the Dons in the first Championship game of 2013 when the Rams won 22-16 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Spaven made 27 appearances for the Dons in 2011 where he scored nine tries and kicked 85 goals and a drop goal. He finished as the club's top points scorer (207) in his first and only season with the club and is delighted to be back.

Spaven commented: "Looking back to April it was a pretty tough decision to leave Dewsbury as I had just been made captain but I had to do what was right for my family.

"Travelling up and down the M62 three times a week got too much in the end as I had to be as close to home as possible.

"However, it presented me with the opportunity to play alongside my brother at West Hull which was good and I started enjoying my rugby again.

"Coming back to Doncaster was quite an easy decision to make and Cookie was certainly an influence in my return.

"As I play at scrum half or hooker I feel I can learn a lot from him as he's a smart bloke and I also feel the club is making great progress and is heading in the right direction.

"There's also a lot of players who are still at the club from my previous stint, who are a great bunch of lads, and I'm confident we can push on to bigger and better things next season."

Head coach Cooke said: "Scott's another excellent signing for the club and brings a wealth of experience with him from his time with Hull KR and Dewsbury.

"After things didn't work out for Scott at Dewsbury, we kept in touch and tried to bring him back when Kyle Kesik injured his knee earlier in the season but he stayed with West Hull for family reasons.

"He keeps himself in great physical condition, has a very good attitude towards the game and has a desire to succeed.

"I believe he's another player who has the right pedigree to add to our culture and professionalism as we continue to move forward."

Spaven is Cooke's second new signing for the club who joins fellow ex Robin Liam Welham who signed for the Dons last week.

Only seen him a couple of times , im sure the regulars on here will know more about him, but looks like a good signing .

I'll see if I can find some of the old match DVDs I have, and I'll put some stuff on later if I do.

I tend to remember being disappointed when he left previously

That'd be good Rob.

i was also disappointed when he left.

does this mean cookie might not be playing as much next season?
or craig fawcett gets less game time?

Don't think Craig Fawcett has signed back on , has he?

No, well if he has it hasn't been announced .

I'm now digging round my front room looking for the DVDs, all whilst trying to sort out the end of season stuff.

He kicked the best 40-20 i've ever seen
Can't remember the opponents but he was only 1-2Mtr in from the touchline.
unbelievable!

Thanks.
that probably answers my question then.

could be a decent pairing cooke and spaven both with excellent kicking games.

Hope we get Kay to be honest, BUT Wakefield have offered an increased package !

Kay would be a great signing, Hopefully we could get him. Would have to play Spaven at hooker.

3 Great players to build a team around.

Sorry mate to disagree but we have Kesik & Emmett for that role , cover at hooker for injury yes. Time will tell but think Spaven will play scrum half.

COYD

Good point made.

One of the papers has reported that Fev are also chasing Kay, I think we can safely say we have missed the boat

I liked Spav, but he's not got the class of Kay.
I'd sooner have Fawcett.

At hooker to replace who? Both emmett & Kesik have more than proved themselves the last few seasons. Although I do think emmett seems happier at LF.

Personally think this is a good signing as he is a decent player. As for where he plays depends on how he trains and plays doesn't it?

Players compete for the shirt so if Spaven takes it from somebody and keeps it, due to better performance etc then so be it. No room for favouritism, nepotism or any other "ism"!

All that said he has a hard task to take the position of some of those named....getting interesting already! Roll on the new season.

Needs to think carefully about Fev. Briggs,Tonks,Haley,Hodson, Divorty, spring to mind and probably others who went but seemed to lose their way

if kay is going elsewhere he will be a big miss next season.
but good luck to him wherever he plays at.

I think everyone on here will agree 100%.

If he doesn't love me , I hope he loves someone else.
Losers!!!
WTF?



Here fishy fishy.