Whitehaven have announced that seven players will be leaving the LEL Arena following the conclusion of their present contracts.
Alex Bishop, Dave Eccleston, Sam Freeman, Lachlan Lanskey, Josh Rourke, Daniel Spencer-Tonks and Lasarusa Tabu will all depart the club following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.
The club have also confirmed that George Hill, Brad Holroyd and Will Groves will return to their parent clubs.
As announced earlier in the campaign Haven will say goodbye to winger Dave Eccleston after two seasons with Haven. Signing from North Wales ahead of the 2022 season the winger/centre has made 46 appearances scoring 14 tries.
The departure of Alex Bishop and Sam Freeman comes after both players have seen their time at the LEL Arena disrupted with long term injuries.
Bish’ has made 15 appearances across two season scoring four tries and 21 goals since signing from Australia ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Sam hit the ground running this season before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the Good Friday fixture away to Barrow. The full back made seven appearances. scoring two tries and 11 goals.
Josh Rourke had a stand-out season in the Championship and has elected to take a deal elsewhere for next season.
The winner of five awards at the club’s end-of-season presentation evening last Saturday he played in every game in 2023 scoring 11 tries and 60 goals, ending the season as the club’s leading points scorer.
Forwards Lachlan Lanskey, Lasarusa Tabu and Daniel Spencer-Tonks will also leave West Cumbria.
Australian Lanskey made 24 appearances scoring one try against London Broncos in August.
Fijian Tabu made 19 appearances once again scoring one try in June at home to Widnes Vikings.
Spencer-Tonks scored five tries in 18 appearances either side of a mid-season loan move to Rochdale Hornets.
A club statement said: “Whitehaven RLFC would like to put on record its thanks to all who have donned the chocolate blue and gold for their effort and commitment on what has been a tough season on and off the field.
“The club remains in negotiations with the players who are entering the final months of their contracts and will keep supporters updated when we have any news.”
