Whitehaven continue to sign-up exciting second-row talent ahead of their return to the Championship next year.

Hard on the heels of re-signing Jake Moore and Connor Holliday the Recreation Ground club have again added former Workington Town forward Brett Phillips to their squad.

A Scottish international, Phillips has agreed a one-year deal with the League One champions as they prepare for life back in rugby league’s second tier.

While younger brother Callum joined Haven in 2018, 31-year-old Brett took a year out of the game before re-uniting with him at the Recreation Ground for the hugely successful season which ended with Whitehaven winning promotion.

In his debut season for Haven, he made 17 appearances and scored four tries and was picked for the Scotland RL train-on squad ahead of the 2021 World Cup qualifiers.

After agreeing the new deal Phillips said: “I’m excited about next year. I enjoyed last season and hopefully we can kick on again in 2020 and enjoy our rugby. I’m looking forward to getting back into the routine and playing rugby again.”

Whitehaven’s head coach Gary Charlton, who persuaded Phillips to return to the sport last season is understandably delighted to have another outstanding young forward in his squad again.

He said: “Brett is a great signing for us because he’s a good player who has experience playing in the Championship and at the highest level with Scotland. It’s really pleasing to have him sign for another season with us.”

Phillips learnt his rugby at Seaton Rangers and while an amateur played for the Community Lions, the Under-18 GB Lions and with both BARLA’s Under-21s and GB Open Age side.

He turned professional with Workington Town in 2012 and was at Derwent Park until the end of the 2017 season in which time he chalked up 145 appearances, scoring 37 tries.

In seven appearances for Scotland he has scored two tries.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “The squad is coming together nicely for the 2020 season back in the Championship and Brett is an important re-signing.

“The players return to training this week and it’s encouraging that we have so much talent signed up with others still to announce.”