TORONTO — Welsh international prop Dan Fleming has left the Toronto Wolfpack for fellow Championship side Halifax RLFC.
Toronto coach Paul Rowley said Fleming requested the move for family reasons.
"Dan approached me recently to discuss the season ahead and how the travel our team is committed to would not suit his family dynamics, due to the birth of his first child," Rowley said in a statement Thursday. "Dan was very honest and upfront and throughout the process of finding a new club he remained professional and positive around the squad."
The 25-year-old Fleming, who made 15 appearances in 2017 when Toronto won promotion to the second-tier Championship in English rugby league, has signed a two-year deal with Halifax.
"It's massive for me coming home back to Halifax," said Fleming. "I grew up across the road from Thrum Hall (Halifax's former stadium) and I now live five minutes away from the ground so it's great to come back to my hometown. My brother and I have been Halifax fans all of our lives. Even when I played elsewhere, I always got down to watch the team when we had days off so to represent my hometown club is massive."
Fleming praised the Wolfpack for their help in facilitating the move, saying "I can only say good things about Toronto."
Fleming could feature in Halifax's pre-season friendly Sunday against Featherstone Rovers.
The Welsh forward joins former captain Craig Hall, Steve Crossley, Tom Dempsey, Shaun Pick, Rhys Jacks and Sean Penkywicz in leaving Toronto after its inaugural season.
New faces includes Australians Cory Paterson, Dave Taylor and Josh McCrone, Albanian-born Olsi Krasniqi, Fiji's Ashton Sims and England's Joe Westerman, Tom Armstrong and Andy Ackers.
The Wolfpack season starts Feb. 4 at Leigh. Toronto, currently in pre-season mode in Manchester, is slated to visit Halifax in Round 3 on Feb. 18.
Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
