NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC chairman Charles Rollinson reckons York City Knights have missed a trick by letting Ben Jones join Hunslet Hawks.

Scrum-half Jones, 22, has been a stand-out player for the All Blacks in the past few years in the club's rise up to Pennine League premier division prosperity.

He was looked at by the city's professional club and indeed played for their academy last year, but there was no follow-up offer on the cards and he has now signed instead for their Co-op National League Two rivals from south Leeds.

Rollinson said: "I think York City Knights might have missed a trick with this one.

"He's been for the last three seasons our outstanding player and he's certainly got bags of potential."

Jones was a junior player at neighbouring amateur club York Acorn before switching to the All Blacks at open age level.

Rollinson added: "He's got pace and he can step off both feet. He can change a game within seconds.

"He's a good tackler as well and he's got a good kicking game. I think he's got a big future."

Jones is the third player from the All Blacks to join the pro ranks this season, in addition to their players in the Knights' academy squad.

Young flier Lee Mapals has become a regular in the Knights' first team, and won the Press-sponsored Player of the Month award for March, while experienced winger Alex Godfrey is also at Huntington Stadium again (though currently out injured) after initially returning to rugby league with a spell at All Blacks.

A fourth New Earswick player, teenage hooker Tom Hodgson, who had a trial match for the Knights in pre-season and is in their academy, may also turn pro after his commitments with the amateur Great Britain Under-18s team end.

Knights coach Mick Cook, who has already added several local amateur youngsters to his squad this season, said Jones was not offered a deal by the club. He added: "We wish him all the best in his career at Hunslet."