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Free-scoring Ferreira reunites with Applegarth at Knights

emma kennedy
·2-min read
York Knights have signed free-scoring centre Jude Ferreira from Hunslet. <i>(Image: Craig Irvine)</i>
York Knights have signed free-scoring centre Jude Ferreira from Hunslet. (Image: Craig Irvine)

YORK Knights have secured the signature of free-scoring centre Jude Ferreira from Hunslet.

The 23-year-old joins the Knights fresh from helping Dean Muir’s side to promotion from Betfred League One at the end of the 2024 season.

He was Hunslet’s joint top-scorer with 22 tries in 28 appearances in his sole season at the West Yorkshire club as they progressed through the League One play-offs before overcoming Swinton Lions in a dramatic promotion final last month.

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In a social media post last week, the West Yorkshire outfit confirmed that Ferreira had taken up an opportunity with another Betfred Championship club.

Alongside the statement, he penned a message thanking supporters for what he had labelled “the best year of my career so far.”

Ferreira’s move to York will see him reunite with head coach Mark Applegarth, who he played under on the England pathways before switching his international allegiance to Wales.

He came through the ranks at Hull FC, where he also captained their academy side before heading out on loan to London Broncos in 2022.

The youngster went on to feature 11 times as they earned an 11th-placed Betfred Championship finish, his two tries for the club including one against the Knights in a 36-34 thriller at the LNER Community Stadium.

Following his release from Hull, he then joined Hunslet ahead of the 2024 season, going on to become one of their star performers.

Doubles against Newcastle and Rochdale were followed by an incredible four-try haul in May’s 26-18 victory at Keighley Cougars and earned him a place alongside Knights forward Bailey Antrobus in the Wales squad for last month’s 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers.

Applegarth is excited to work with Ferreira again, saying: “He’ll offer some great competition for the centre spots.

"He’s had a great year at Hunslet and he’s a player I coached on the England Pathways a number of years ago and I remember him well from his days at the City of Hull Academy.

"I’m looking forward to linking back up with Jude and hopefully help him achieve his ambition of getting back to the level he wants to be playing at."

He is the Knights’ fourth signing ahead of the 2025 season, and the second centre, following Paul McShane, Kieran Buchanan and James Farrar through the doors at the LNER Community Stadium.