ILKLEY Rugby Club are going to weigh up their options before naming their new captain.

They need to choose a leader before the start of the 2016-17 National League Three North campaign in September.

Head of rugby Rhys Morgan, club chairman Mike Halling and rugby chairman Andrew Munro appear to have a number of strong candidates to replace Josh Kimber who has left the club to go travelling.

Among the contenders will be experienced scrum half Joe Rowntree, Australian forward Nick Carolan, back rower Will Davies, player of the year JH Johnson and centre Elliot Morgan.

Carolan did lead the side on a number of occasions last season when Kimber was injured while Morgan’s son Elliot had a spell in charge during the match at Stockport.

“There is a lot to consider,” said Morgan who surprised many at the club when he chose Kimber to replace long-time captain Stuart Vincent last year.

“We may opt for a captain with a number of deputies with specific leadership responsibilities. It is something I want to encourage. It is important that the players can have an input to our planning and it is good to have more than one player with leadership qualities.

“Josh Kimber did a good job as he had a hard act to follow. He was a character who was full of surprises and he was always capable of producing a match-winning piece of play.

“I was pleased with the way he adapted to playing at centre when he returned from injury.

“All of his previous games for us had been at stand off but he went in and did a fine job.”