YORK Knights have retained the services of experienced prop Ukuma Ta’ai for the 2025 Betfred Championship season.

The 37-year-old enjoyed perhaps his best season at the Knights this year, starting all but one of his 21 appearances and scoring four tries.

He was a mainstay during the opening half of the campaign but a hamstring injury during June’s historic win at Featherstone Rovers kept him sidelined until the final weeks of the season.

Ta’ai was of the Knights’ standout players as they earned their highest league finish since 2019 and scored in each of Mark Applegarth’s opening two matches in charge, as well as earlier efforts against both Batley Bulldogs and Halifax Panthers.

He is the third prop to have committed his future to the club over the off-season alongside Jack Teanby and Jacob Gannon, who has made the permanent move after an impressive loan spell this year.

The Tongan international first joined York ahead of the 2023 campaign, bringing a wealth of experience with him to North Yorkshire.

He spent eight years in the Betfred Super League with Huddersfield Giants, for whom he scored 47 tries in 196 appearances, and before that, three years in the NRL with New Zealand Warriors.

After leaving Huddersfield, he moved to Newcastle, where he recorded 13 tries in 34 appearances before switching to the Knights.

Applegarth believes Ta’ai’s experience is invaluable to his squad both on and off the pitch, enthusing: "I'm really glad Ukuma is over the line.

"He’s a father figure of that forward group, not only for what he brings on the field but he’s a very good mentor of the players off it.

"It's not only with his rugby league experience but with how he lives his life and the values he upholds.

"He's a really fantastic re-signing for York and he’ll add a lot to not only the playing ability of the squad but the culture away from the rugby as well."