Leigh Centurions loanee Dave Thompson will be a Whitehaven player for the 2018 season.

Thompson, 22, spent most of last season with the Recreation Ground club in a loan arrangement.

Now Whitehaven have done a permanent one-year deal with Thompson.

Thompson played on the wing and in the second-row for Haven last season, making 17 appearances and scoring five tries, while on loan from Leigh Centurions. He made his Haven debut in the opening League One fixture away to South Wales.

Last October, Leigh signed Thompson on a two-year deal when he was released by Warrington.

A former England Academy three-quarter, he spent nearly three months on loan from the Wolves to Hull Kingston Rovers at the end of the 2016 season making three senior appearances.

After graduating through the Wigan academy structure and representing Wigan Warriors Under-19s in 2015, Thompson featured in Warrington Wolves’ reserve side until the move to Humberside allowed him the opportunity to make his senior debut.

Thompson is a product of the community club Wigan St Patrick’s. He became a popular member of the Haven squad, despite being the only loanee.

After signing, Thompson said: “I am honoured to have signed back with Whitehaven and I can’t wait for the season to start.

“Like everyone else I can’t wait to get out there and help Whitehaven to promotion to regain the place in the Championship where they belong.”

Whitehaven coach Carl Forster added: “Dave has come through some good systems, played at a high level and those opportunities don’t get given out by accident.

“He showed in spells what he can do for us last season and with a full pre-season under his belt and through getting regular game time he will be a great player for us.”

Forster also spoke about the two pre-season fixtures announced so far.

Haven will welcome Swinton Lions to the Recreation Ground on Sunday, January 21 with a 3pm kick-off.

A week later they will travel to Craven Park to take on Barrow Raiders with a 2pm kick-off.

He said: “We’re really looking forward to testing ourselves against Championship quality. It will give us a good test and show us where we are heading going into the season.”