EX-ENGLAND international Scott Benton has joined Huddersfield Rugby Union Club as a player/coach for the 2012/2013 season and will be on show in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly at home to Blaydon.

A former playing colleague of head coach Dan Hyde at Leeds Tykes, Benton has come on board to replace out-going backs coach Ian Shuttleworth, who has left due to increased work commitments at QEGS.

The 37-year-old scrum half played one Test for England against Australia in Brisbane in 1998 on what was later referred to as ‘the tour from Hell’, but he made his name playing for Gloucester and Leeds, where he playing alongside Hyde.

Like his predecessor Shuttleworth, Benton who will be in charge of the back line, is also a teacher at the prestigious Silcoates School, in Wakefield.

Another newcomer is Tom Hanson, who is an ex-Morley man and will play in the second row, Lee Brown having once again returned to his Hull roots, while Ben Mitchell is a young centre who has just been recruited.

In an interesting positional change, head coach Hyde is moving Tom Owen from full-back to stand-off to take over the No10 shirt vacated by former Lockwood Park favourite Chris Johnson, who has moved to Fylde.

“I’m confident Tom can make the transition from full-back into a really good fly-half,” explained Hyde.

“He has all the skills, good hands, speed, kicking ability, and he is really growing into the role. On top of which, he will get great guidance by having someone with the vast experience of Scott playing alongside him at scrum half.”

As well as the blow of losing Johnson, Hyde is also resigned to losing winger Adam Ryder back across town the YMCA.

“I’m disappointed to lose Adam, because I’m sure he would have seen a lot more ball this season, but that’s up to him!”

“It has been a frustrating pre-season, but the last few weeks have been good and we are getting a solid base to take into the new season.

“Getting Scott is a bonus, and I’ve been very impressed with second rower Tom Hanson, who is a big, dynamic runner and very useful in the line-out. And, hopefully, we still have a couple more new signing to come.”

Tomorrow’s match against Blaydon, who are in the division above Huddersfield in National I, kicks off at 2.30, while the big League kick-off is next Saturday (Sept 1) when Caldy visit Lockwood Park (3.00).