Half-back Ben White joins Hornets

Experienced half-back Ben White has joined Rochdale Hornets ahead of the 2027 season.

White arrives at the Crown Oil Arena having been with Batley Bulldogs since 2020. 

He featured 180 times for his previous club over seven seasons and recently passed 300 career appearances.

White, a Germany international representative, has established himself as a key presence for Batley over recent years, helping them reach the play-offs in three of his six completed seasons at the club.

The 31-year-old began his career with Leeds Rhinos, making his Super League debut in 2014. 

He went on to represent Gloucestershire All Golds, Swinton Lions, Halifax and Barrow Raiders, prior to linking up with Batley.

Following Jack Hansen's departure at the end of the campaign, the arrival of White will provide quality, experience and level-headedness as the club looks to build a squad capable of challenging for the play-offs in 2027.

On the move, he said: “I’m looking forward to it. There’s a good buzz around the town at the moment, with the rugby and various other bits.

“I’ve got a young family and work locally, so it seemed the right fit for me. 

“I’m a bit of an experienced head now, so coming into this younger group is exciting and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.”

Rochdale Hornets chairman Andy Mazey said: “We got our man, and Ben White is a fantastic signing and a real coup for this club. 

“Once we understood Jack Hansen would be moving on earlier in the year, our thoughts immediately turned to 2027, and Gary and I set about putting together a wish list of potential targets. Ben was top of that list and ticked all the boxes. 

“Having come through the Leeds Rhinos academy, our paths crossed briefly while both at Swinton, and he’s since gone on to become a top Championship performer with Halifax and Barrow before finally finding “home” at Batley. 

“He has been a key part of the Bulldogs’ success, playing in a Championship play-off semi-final, a Championship Grand Final, and the 1895 Cup final at Wembley. 

“He's also worked with Jamie Dallimore before at Barrow, and his experience is another piece of the jigsaw as we strive to improve this team and push up that Championship table.”