LOCAL product Alfie Seeley has been handed his first professional contract by Keighley Cougars.

The half-back, who made his senior debut in the recent Danny Jones Memorial Game against Wales, is among a crop of youngsters to be handed a squad number by head coach Paul March ahead of the 2016 season.

Seeley, who played for Keighley Couagrs Cubs at under-tens, 11s and 12s before moving up through the age groups with Keighley Albion, ending with appearances for Keighley's open-age side and Cougars at under-20 and reserve level, will wear No 33.

Sean Kelly (27), Aaron Nicholson (28), Hamish Barnes (29), Josh Hunt (31), Josh Casey (32) and Jamel Goodall (34) take the numbers around Seeley..

The club state: "Alf has impressed massively since making his reserve-team debut in 2014 aged just 16, and is tipped for a bright future here at Cougar Park.

"The club would like to congratulate Seeley on his promotion and we hope he goes on to become our latest home-grown sensation."

Meanwhile, Jamaican international prop Ross Peltier, who is on loan with union club Bradford & Bingley, who are leading Yorkshire Division One, has signed a one-year deal to stay with the Cougars.

But because the signing came after the numbers were submitted, Peltier, who has scored two tries in 15 appearances for the Cougars over two years, has been given No 35.

Seven Cougars have been given lower squad numbers for next season as a mark of their progress during 2015.

Andy Gabriel, Rikki Sheriffe, Tyler Dickinson, Josh Lynam, Ash Lindsay, Adam Brook and Scott Lee have been assigned better numbers.

Meanwhile, March has used his new recruits to fill the blanks left by those who have departed.

Therefore John Oakes, Sonny Esslemont, Aaron Ollett, Charlie Martin, Vinny Finigan and Hawkyard brothers Ritchie and Darren take numbers 17, 18, 20, 23, 26, 22 and 25 respectively.

The No 6 shirt, worn by Danny Jones, will remain in retirement.

2016 SQUAD NUMBERS: 1 Jesse Sheriffe, 2 Andy Gabriel, 3 Rikki Sheriffe, 4 Danny Lawton,

5 Paul White, 7 Paul Handforth, 8 Scott Law, 9 James Feather, 10 Tyler Dickinson, 11 Josh Lynam, 12 Brendon Rawlins, 13 Ash Lindsay, 14 Adam Brook, 15 Neil Cherryholme, 16 Jode Sheriffe, 17 John Oakes, 18 Sonny Esslemont, 19 Matthew Bailey, 20 Aaron Ollet, 21 Scott Lee, 22 Ritchie Hawkyard, 23 Charlie Martin, 24 Liam Darville, 25 Darren Hawkyard, 26 Vinny Finigan, 27 Sean Kelly, 28 Aaron Nicholson, 29 Hamish Barnes, 30 Tom Courtney, 31 Josh Hunt, 32 Josh Casey, 33 Alfie Seeley, 34 Jamel Goodall, 35 Ross Peltier.