FORMER Love Island star Jacques O’Neill has penned a one-year deal to return to rugby league with York Knights.

The 25-year-old hooker will be hoping to restart his career in the sport after several injury-hit seasons following his stint on the reality show.

O’Neill was released from his contract with Betfred Super League side Castleford Tigers to appear as a contestant on the ITV hit in 2022, however he has not played a professional rugby league match since.

Recommended reading:

He though will be in familiar company at the Knights, having joined former Tigers teammate and fellow hooker Paul McShane in making the move to North Yorkshire for 2025.

Following the departures of regular starters Will Jubb and Josh Daley at the end of the 2024 season, he will join Taylor Pemberton, Sam Cook and York Acorn youngster Alfie Crawford in battling for a spot at nine next year.

The Barrow-born forward made his first forays into the sport with Askam before moving to Castleford, where he penned his first professional contract at the age of 16 and progressed through their academy.

Having stepped up to the Tigers’ Under 19s, he joined Leigh on a short-term loan ahead of their Championship Shield final in 2018 and made one appearance for dual registration partners Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Championship the following year.

But it was in 2019 that he enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing the campaign with 11 appearances to his name. He made his Super League debut for Castleford against Hull KR, and was rewarded with a new contract before scoring his first top-flight try against London Broncos later that year.

Tipped by then-boss Daryl Powell to have a bright future in the sport, O’Neill scored twice in 12 appearances for the club in 2020 and was voted as the League Express Young Player of the Year.

He was selected for the England Knights Performance squad in 2021 but saw his season blighted by a hamstring injury that limited him to just six appearances and forced him to miss the Betfred Challenge Cup final after undergoing surgery.

In summer 2022, Castleford announced that he had been released from his contract to join Love Island, but that they would leave the door open should he decide to return to the sport.

He did so the following year, and having faced 18 months on the sidelines, a loan to Sheffield Eagles was taken up. However, he failed to feature for the South Yorkshire side after aggravating an Achilles injury and was subsequently released from his contract at the end of the campaign.

O'Neill joins former Castleford teammate Paul McShane in making the move to the Knights for 2025.O'Neill joins former Castleford teammate Paul McShane in making the move to the Knights for 2025. (Image: PA) O’Neill hopes that his move to York will help spark his rugby career back to life, enthusing: " I'm made up to sign for York.

"They're a good club with great aspirations and high standards so I'm looking forward to getting started.

"Speaking with Clint Goodchild and Mark Applegarth, they seem like great people I can work with coming back to rugby league.

"I know a couple of the boys already, like Paul McShane. He used to look after me when I was 16 so hopefully it'll change round and I'll look after him now!"

Applegarth believes that O’Neill still has plenty of quality despite his time away from the game and is excited to see him back on the field in 2025.  

“I remember Jacques when I was head of youth at Wakefield and he was playing at Castleford,” he explained. “He was always a player I knew had potential.

“Obviously he’s been away from the game and focussed on some other stuff, but when we first sat down it was very clear he wanted to make his mark in rugby league again and he wanted a bit of direction through that. It’s something that myself and chairman, Clint Goodchild feel we could offer him.

“He’s coming in for the right reasons, to play rugby league.

“I’m really looking forward to getting Jacques out there and getting him fit and rugby ready again because when he’s match fit he’s a cracking player. I think he’ll really go well this year.”

O'Neill is the Knights’ fifth new signing for 2025, joining McShane, centres Kieran Buchanan and Jude Ferreira and talented teenager James Farrar in moving to the club.