KEIGHLEY Cougars have announced that Billy Gaylor has penned a new deal with the club.

Gaylor, who has cemented himself as a first team regular under head coach Rhys Lovegrove, has committed his future to the club until the end of the 2023 season, with the option to extend by a further year until 2024.

And ‘Billy Whizz’ admitted the decision to remain at Cougar Park was an easy one to make.

“It was a no brainer for me to stay with the Cougars,” said Gaylor.

“From when I first signed in 2018, the club has just gone from strength to strength in every department.

“It is a competitive squad we have this year, and everyone is pushing one another to be better.

“That is something I enjoy being a part of.

“I’ve developed my game under Rhys and his coaching team but I feel there is still plenty for me to learn and improve on as a player.

“It’s a really exciting time to be involved with a club like Keighley, the whole town has a real buzz around the place.

“The fans have been nothing short of amazing and regardless of where we play, and no matter how far away it is, they turn up in their numbers and back us.”

Head of rugby Andrew Henderson added: “It is great to have Billy on board with us going forward.

“He is a player that represents our core values and fits our playing style.

“Billy has been on a journey with the Cougars since Rhys started here and we feel he has improved and developed over that time to become a valuable member of this team.

“I feel Billy has potential to develop further as a player in our performance environment and we look forward to seeing him progress with us.”

Originally joining the club in 2018 on the back of an award-winning season at the Coventry Bears, Gaylor struggled to break into the side originally and was released from his contract to join amateur side Siddal.

However, with the Cougars entering financial difficulties in the latter part of that season, Gaylor returned to the club to help during their time of need.

His form, which saw him named man of the match in the club’s record victory over the West Wales Raiders, and loyalty was rewarded following the takeover of the club as he signed a new deal for the 2019 season.

After initially being part of a rotation system with his fellow hookers, Gaylor cemented a place as a first team regular following the appointment of Lovegrove, and went on to play both at nine and in the halves.

Before Covid-19 halted the 2020 season in its tracks, Gaylor again became a regular in the side, mostly in the halves rather than at hooker, and continued to impress under Lovegrove’s stewardship.

After being unlucky to not win the pre-season friendly against the Sheffield Eagles at the death, hitting the post with a drop-goal attempt, Gaylor featured in both League 1 games before lockdown.

Returning after the pandemic, the 2021 season was a real breakthrough year for Gaylor as he recovered from a shoulder injury sustained early in the season to become a mainstay in the team, moving into the loose forward position.

His defensive capabilities, mixed with his passing game and understanding of the systems implemented by the coaching staff, saw him become a firm favourite both on and off the field.

Despite missing the start of this season through concussion, Gaylor has returned in style to again become a lynchpin of the side, as the Cougars push for promotion to the second tier.

Players contracted for season 2023 (as of 04/08/2022): Mo Agoro; Dane Chisholm; Billy Gaylor; Charlie Graham; Aaron Levy; Jack Miller; Eddy Pettybourne; Nathan Roebuck; Brenden Santi; Harvey Spence; Alix Stephenson; Kyle Trout; Lewis Young.