Tuesday 26th May 09

Hull Kingston Rovers have rewarded centre Kris Welham for his sparkling form this season with a new contract that will keep him at Craven Park until the end of the 2012 campaign

The 22-year-old is an ever-present for Rovers this year and, after playing a key role in their rise to second place in the table, has been touted as a potential England international.

“This is my hometown team and to play for them for the next three years is going to be very special,” he said.

Meanwhile Hull KR have allowed 18-year-old prop Liam Watts to join Gateshead Thunder on loan for a month.

Coach Justin Morgan said: “Liam is a player with huge amounts of natural ability and he will benefit greatly from a loan period at Gateshead.”

Watts’ last appearance for Rovers was in their Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round win over Sheffield Eagles and he is, therefore, ineligible for Gateshead’s quarter-final against St Helens on Saturday.