RHYS Morgan has made three new signings for Ilkley’s – and one of them he knows particularly well.

That’s because it is his middle son Charles, a stand-off who has been playing with National League Two North side Harrogate who will join elder brother Elliot in his dad’s squad.

He will be competing with Charlie Ramsay and and Ed Brown for the No10 jersey and he can’t expect any special favours.

“Charles knows he has to fight for his place. It was his decision to join us rather than me persuading him to come,” said Ilkley’s head of rugby.

Second row has long been a problem position area for Ilkley so the recruitment of Harry Adams and Adam Newman from West Leeds and Otley is a welcome boost just as fellow lock Keiran Dannett has returned to full training after injury.

Rhys Morgan admits that selection for Saturday’s National League Three North derby with Cleckheaton will be “interesting.”

He would not be drawn on whether the new boys would be included in the team, but he admitted that the added competition for places was a welcome boost.

“We have need more second rows for a while because we have had to keep putting back row players like Nathan Smith and Martyn Mitchell in there.

“They have battled hard, but it has meant we have had a lack of height in the line-out while Dannett has been out.”

Ilkley are currently eighth in the table, two places ahead of Cleckheaton. The Dalesmen won 26-18 at Moorend earlier in the season and Morgan expects the visitors to be hungry for revenge.

He said: “Cleckheaton are always a very determined side who make things tough for you. I am sure that hey will provide us with another difficult test at Stacks Field.”