Harrogate Rugby Union Club may seek compensation from rugby league side Doncaster Dragons following the loss of top summer signing Simon Irving.

The former England A and York Wasps centre has received a £20,000 offer to join the Dragons less than a month after his arrival at Harrogate.

Irving, 33, has asked to be released from his contract at Claro Road and Harrogate's chairman of rugby, Mark Peers, reluctantly agreed.

He said: "We can't really stand in his way but we will be talking with Doncaster about compensation. It will be a blow to to lose someone of Simon's quality but we are already talking to possible replacements.

"We have made a number of good signings in the last few weeks, bringing in players of high quality and overall we will have a stronger squad than last time."