Keighley Cougars have confirmed the return of club stalwart Paul Royston as their strength and conditioning coach. 

Royston is back at Cougar Park after a period at Batley Bulldogs under former Keighley head coach Craig Lingard, who has now joined Castleford.

He returns to assist head coach Matt Foster in preparing the team for the season ahead.

Foster said: “When I returned to Keighley and started to reconnect with some old acquaintances, Paul was one of the first people I wanted to speak to.

“As the conversation evolved, it became clear that we were able to reacquaint ourselves fairly quickly and he was one of the people I most wanted to work with on this project.

“He is Keighley through and through and we’ve spent the last few weeks talking about how we can make incremental improvements in the strength and conditioning areas of the team.”

In further off-field recruitment news, Lyndsey Hatton joins as head physiotherapist.

She is the wife of new Cougars signing Lewis Hatton and has spent the last few years working at Widnes Vikings.

She has over 10 years of experience in rugby league physiotherapy. 

Jordie Hedges continues at the club in his role as assistant coach and Steph Petty remains part of the off-field set up as team masseuse.

Petty will assist Hatton in her physio duties.