League One side Goole Vikings have confirmed seven exiting players including a Hull FC legend and a Super League-bound teenager.
The Vikings entered the professional ranks for the first time in 2025 and their maiden season has seen them make a strong impression on League One.
With one fixture still to play, the Vikings will finish at least seventh but possibly as high as sixth with an impressive eight wins already secured from 17.
They also landed a Challenge Cup upset by beating London Broncos at the start of the year in what’s been a successful season for rugby league’s latest professional club.
The Vikings are coached by Hull FC legend Scott Taylor and another of the Black and Whites’ Challenge Cup winning sides has starred for them in 2025, but is now set to hang up his boots.
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A list of seven departures were confirmed by Goole with the leading name on that list being former Hull FC full-back Jamie Shaul.
Still only 33, Shaul had come out of retirement to play for Goole but he’s now set to retire once again after making 11 appearances for the Vikings, during which time he scored six tries.
He had previously scored 102 in 200 games for the Black and Whites with his peak coming between 2016 and 2018 when he scored an impressive 49 tries across three seasons.
Also retiring is Andy Ellis, the 40-year-old veteran who had also answered the call and come out of retirement to represent Goole, doing so eight times this year.
Reece Dean, Thomas Minns and Mike Ogunwole will all make the switch to rugby union whilst Ryan Wright will leave the club to “explore other opportunities”.
Perhaps the most interesting departure is teenager Joe Phillips with the former Leeds Rhinos academy prop having ‘earned a Super League contract’, per Goole’s statement.
Phillips signed ahead of the 2025 season and has clearly made quite the impression in his eight appearances given the fact a Super League side have taken a chance on him.
Goole’s statement thanked their departing players, reading: “As the curtain comes down on the Vikings’ first-ever professional season tomorrow, the club have confirmed which players will depart at the end of the current campaign.
“Supporters will have the chance to show their appreciation and give a fitting send-off to several members of the inaugural Vikings squad, all of whom have played a significant role in creating history during our maiden campaign.”
They host Workington Town this afternoon as they look to end their maiden campaign of professional rugby league with a win.
