A FORMER Super League player has appeared in court after an incident involving a York City Knights player towards the end of a match at Huntington Stadium.

Rugby league player Andy Hobson was a prop forward in the Blackpool Panthers team that visited York for a Co-operative Championship One fixture on May 30.

Knights prop Nathan Freer was taken to York Hospital for treatment at the end of the game. He allegedly needed 11 stitches to a facial injury.

The Crown Prosecution Service alleges Hobson assaulted Mr Freer, causing him actual bodily harm.

Hobson, 31, of Cloverdale, Halifax, did not enter a plea during the brief appearance before York magistrates. The case was adjourned for three weeks and he was released on bail.

The match ended in a 24-22 win for the home team and was watched by 535 people. The two teams met again in the end-of-season play-offs when they were rivals for promotion to the Championship.

The Knights won the elimination semi-final against the Lancastrian side 36-18 and went on to triumph in the final against Oldham Roughyeds 25-4 in a match at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Mr Freer, 21, who has previously played for Doncaster and came through Hull FC’s youth set-up, has been with the Knights for one season and recently agreed terms to stay at Huntington Stadium next year.

Hobson captained Blackpool Panthers for part of this summer’s season and wore the captain’s armband during the May match against the Knights at Huntington Stadium.

His career started at his home town club, Halifax, when he signed with them as a junior. After they were relegated from Super League in 2003, he stayed in rugby league’s top flight by joining Widnes Vikings until they were relegated at the end of the 2004 season.

Since then, Hobson has had spells at Leigh Centurions, Halifax again, and most recently, Blackpool Panthers.

He was recently named in this season’s Co-operative Championship One Team of the Year alongside York’s Lee Waterman.

He has played in the past for Halifax and Leigh Centurions.