CHRIS JOHNSON RETURNS TO HUDDERSFIELD
Former Huddersfield RUFC fly half Chris Johnson is set to make a welcome return to the club after a six year break. Having been part of the team that got Huddersfield into the National Leagues back in 2008 he cut his teeth at Level 4 with the club racking up a total of 1705 points in National 2 North in the process. This makes him the second highest points scorer of all time in the division.
After leaving Huddersfield at the end of the 2011/12 season, one in which he was the leading scorer in National 2 North, the former England Counties XV player went on to play with Fylde in National 1 before moving to Sale FC with whom he achieved a championship win and promotion to National 1 last season.
Johnson’s return could not have come at a better time for Huddersfield Head Coach Gaz Lewis. ‘As a club we are delighted to welcome Chris back to Huddersfield. When Chris approached us about the possibility of a return it was a no brainier. With Mark Pease currently injured and Harry Davey returning to Yorkshire Carnegie for the Championship cup campaign it was clear to see the team required a fly half. Chris’s record in the National leagues is right up there and he has had a fantastic career since moving to Fylde and then Sale FC. I know he is incredibly passionate about playing for Huddersfield once again. His experience and proven quality can only benefit the team.’
National 1 is a truly national league dominated by teams from the south of England with only four of the sixteen teams in it being from the north. With a family and new baby Johnson has been finding the travel commitments involved in playing at Level 3 too demanding. The longest away trip being a full weekender to Plymouth. ‘The chance to bring my experience to bear in a team going so well in the league is another reason for wanting to move back to Huddersfield. I want to help the team finish as high as possible, score as many points as I can and maybe contribute a try or two as well.’
Johnson has joined the team for training this week and is set to take the field for the crucial National 2 North home match against Stourbridge on Saturday.
Richard Sykes, Rugby Union Correspondent Huddersfield Daily Examiner
