YORK City Knights fans are now most unlikely to see Jamie Rooney at Huntington Stadium next season, after the 31-year-old moved to France.

Rooney, the former Wakefield, Featherstone and Barrow half-back, had spoken to York about signing for 2012 but the parties were far apart in early negotiations.

He instead agreed terms to join Limoux, who play in the French Elite League, late last week and made his debut, playing alongside another former Knights target, former Hull and Barrow prop Jamie Thackray, in a 44-0 derby defeat to Lezignan.

The French season ends in the spring and so Rooney could return to English rugby league then, but the odds seem stacked against a move to York.

The Knights have said they will not be rushed into signing a half-back in the meantime but have openly stated that is the position in which they need to strengthen, with only player-boss Chris Thorman and new recruit Lee Williams, an unproven 20-year-old signed from Hull’s academy, as recognised playmakers among the 2012 squad.

Unless someone becomes a free agent, any new signings are unlikely to be made before the new year, with the Knights waiting to see which players among Super League clubs become available.

Wakefield’s Gareth Moore, linked with York for a while, remains one possibility.

Meanwhile, Rugby Football League bosses are set to scrap the use of squad numbers in the Co-operative Championships and revert to traditional match-day shirt numbering of one to 17.

Clubs had complained about the costs of providing up to 35 playing shirts for first-team squads.

Squad numbers were first brought into professional rugby league at the inception of Super League in 1996 although they were only introduced to the lower tiers in 2010.

• The fundraising race day at Bar 13 on Saturday for the family of player Jordan Rice made £676.

Donations are still being accepted via the Knights’ club office on 01904 767404.

Rice’s dad, Frank, died on holiday in the Dominican Republic.

His funeral is being held today at Holy Christ Church in Airedale.