THE two-time “fastest man in rugby league” is set to fly along the flanks at Bootham Crescent next year.

Former Leeds Rhinos academy starlet Jamel Chisholm has signed for York City Knights for 2015, following an aborted stint at Featherstone Rovers and a spell kicking his heels in the wilderness.

New boss James Ford reckons the 21-year-old pace ace can not only kickstart his career but also help the Knights speed to Kingstone Press League One success in their first season sharing grounds with York City.

“It’s an outstanding acquisition for the club,” said Ford. “He’s astonishingly quick and he’s got potential. He’s big and athletic and has all the ingredients to be an outstanding performer for York.

“I was keen to bring more pace to the team. We could hardly have picked anyone quicker.”

Winger Chisholm, then with Leeds, was twice crowned rugby league’s fastest man in official sprint challenges during the floodlit 9s tournaments of 2009 and 2010, beating Hull FC’s then York speedster Tom Lineham.

Only injury prevented him defending his title in 2011 and he was a close second in the last race in 2012.

His lightning pace did not bring a senior game for the Rhinos, but he notched 27 tries in 18 appearances for their under-20s in 2012.

He then had a brief cross-code switch to rugby union outfit Leeds Carnegie, for whom he scored four tries in ten outings, before returning to the Rhinos and playing seven games on dual-registration for Hunslet in the Kingstone Press Championship in 2013.

He signed for Rovers a year ago but the departure of coach John Bastian signalled his exit too, since when he has had brief spells in rugby union 9s with London Welsh and in Championship One with Hemel Stags. He comes to York after hearing good things from Knights prop Colton Roche.

Ford said: "He's keen to fit back in and to improve. He wants to fulfil his potential and be successful in the game.

"He's big friends with Colton, who has said some kind things about the environment at York, and he sees us as a vehicle to kicking on and reaching the form he can do.

"I'm confident we can get the best out of him, in which case we'll have some player."

Chisholm's arrival follows hot on the heels of brothers Ben and Adam Dent re-signing for the club, Ben being the top scorer this year with 20 tries in 23 appearances.

Ford added: "With Ben, Jamel and Adam competing for wing spots, and (centre) Nev Morrison also in the mix, we're already looking pacy and dangerous in the outside backs."