Whitehaven have been handed a double boost with two popular stars set to stay at the club.

Callum Phillips and Sam Forrester have both signed two-year contracts which will see them at the Recreation Ground until the end of 2021.

Both Phillips and Forrester were key players in the Haven side which landed the League One title last season.

Half-back Phillips, whose elder brother Brett has also re-signed, first joined the club from Workington Town in 2018.

In his two seasons with the club he has clocked-up 49 appearances in which he has scored 22 tries.

Fourteen of those touchdowns came last season from 21 starts, showing part of his value to the team.

Forrester is another former Workington player who joined Haven for the highly successful campaign of 2019.

He started the season at full-back before striking-up a successful half-back partnership with Phillips. Like Phillips he had a good scoring ratio with 13 tries from his 21 appearances.

After signing his two-year deal Forrester said: “I can’t fault what we did last season and that made it an easy decision to sign again. I’m delighted to have signed for two years.

“The lads in the squad, the coaching staff and the club have been great so it made the decision easy.

“Everyone accepts it’s a tough competition in the Championship but I think we might shock a few clubs next season and I’m looking forward to it.”

Phillips continued the same theme when he added: “I’m really pleased to have signed for two years. Everyone knows how tough next season is going to be but I’m looking forward to us being the underdogs each week, like we were at the start of last season, and that didn’t end up too bad!”

Club chairman Tom Todd said: “It’s excellent that we have added Sam and Callum to the squad again. They both played really well last season and I feel they have the talent to shine in the Championship.

“Both bring something different to the team and as we continue our squad building it’s also very good news that they have committed to another two years.”

Head coach Gary Charlton added his satisfaction that the pair of them had committed to the club again.

He said: “They are two good lads and it’s great to see them both sign for two years. “Sam played out of position last season at half back and he did an excellent job for us. He’s a good organiser and he was good at moving us round the field.

“Callum is vice-captain, part of the leadership group and an integral part of the team. He’s great at scrum half or hooker and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the side and into the dressing room.”