Former York Wasps forward Chris Judge is returning to the club for his second spell at Huntington Stadium.

Chris Judge in the thick of the action during his first spell in York colours

The 26-year-old last has put pen to paper on a one-year deal and goes straight into the squad for Sunday's friendly with Hull Sharks.

Judge, who has been signed as a second row or loose forward, came through the Wasps' ranks after starting his rugby career with the Civil Service, then coached by John Paterson who is now assistant coach at York.

He spent four years with the club from 1992 to 1996 and enjoyed his best spell in the 1994-95 campaign when, then playing in the centre, he scored seven tries in 17 appearances.

In an exchange deal which brought second rower John Hirst to York, Judge then moved on to Wakefield Trinity where he stayed for two seasons.

He has spent the last year playing for Carpentras in the French league and has been a regular in the team which is currently chasing the league title.

Wasps chief executive Jim Race said: "He is a very good signing for the club. He has developed since he was here before and has first division experience. He will do us a lot of good."

Judge joins fellow signings New Zealander Peter Edwards, former York Acorn ace Darren Callaghan and scrum half Mick Crane in Dean Robinson's new-look squad. Further additions are expected in the next few days.

The sponsorship packages now available for the coming season start at £100 for programme adverts ranging up to £12,000 for drill tops.

Meanwhile, the Wasps have eased their tax dispute with the Inland Revenue after a hearing to consider a winding-up petition at the High Court was adjourned.

The petition had been drawn up against the club over £82,000 in unpaid taxes after an original hearing last November was shelved.

Wasps' chief executive Jim Race explained that at the London meeting a payment plan with the Inland Revenue had been agreed and the hearing had been further adjourned until April 14.

Said Race: "We have put a payment plan in situ with the Inland Revenue which will ensure that all payments are made by the end of the tax year.

"The bulk of the payments have indeed already been made and we are due to pay the rest back by that date."

Former York RL secretary Ian Clough has asked the Evening Press to make it clear that he was not in the post at the time of former coach Stuart Horton's dismissal as reported on Tuesday.

That information was supplied from official documents from an Employment Tribunal into the unfair dismissal of Horton.

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