KEIGHLEY Cougars have signed utility player Dan Parker from League One rivals Newcastle Thunder.

A utility player, the former Leeds Beckett University student can cover a number of positions, including centre, second row, half-back and wing.

Originally from Hull, Dan came through the ranks at amateur side West Hull before being part of a Leeds Beckett dynasty that won successive 11 BUCS titles, also earning international honours with Scottish Universities.

Spotted when a student by Coventry Bears head coach Tom Tsang, he played for the Midlanders in their debut season in the semi-professional ranks before becoming one of Michael Mantelli's initial signings for Thunder.

He made 42 appearances for them over two seasons, scoring 11 tries and adding 22 goals in total as they won the League One Shield in 2016 and beat both Doncaster and the Cougars to a top- five finish in 2017.

Parker will wear the No 32 jersey.

Meanwhile, Cougars will have double interest in Scotland's attempt to win the Rugby League Nines tournament in the Commonwealth Championships next month at Redcliffe in Australia.

Davey Dixon has been selected in the squad that has been chosen by head coach Nathan Graham, who is the Cougars' assistant coach.

This will be the second year in succession that Graham, who has been capped ten times by Scotland, will head Down Under as last July he coached Scottish Universities to the semi-finals of the Student Rugby League World Cup.

Dixon will miss the League One opener against Workington Town on February 18 and the third-round Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie the following weekend.

Scotland will be competing in the under-23 event along with Australia, holders Papua New Guinea, England, Wales, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.

In order to be able to go to the Commonwealth Games, Dixon must raise £750 to cover the cost of the trip, and supporters can donate on Dixon's JustGiving page which can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daveydixon