Stuart Biscomb, Jack Francis and Corey Lee join Hornets

Alan Kilshaw, Rochdale Hornets head coach

Rochdale Hornets have beaten off a host of competitors to land three promising young players for 2016.

Back rower come prop Stuart Biscomb joins Hornets from Oxford Rugby League.

Twenty-three year old Biscomb, who scored 11 tries in 15 games for Normanton Knights before making the step up League One, made five appearances for Oxford and attracted interest from a number of Championship and League One clubs for the 2016 season but has opted to join Hornets.

Local lad Jack Francis also rejoins the Hornets for 2016.

Francis spent pre-season with the Hornets in 2015 and impressed in the friendlies with his no-nonsense, aggressive style but ultimately found himself behind more experienced prop forwards and opted to concentrate on his studies before joining Coventry Bears at the back end of the season.

Francis is a former St Helen's junior who came through the Hopwood Hall Academy system.

Hornets have also beat off competition for another former St Helen's junior, Corey Lee.

Lee, 22, is a full back/winger with pace to burn who has spent the last two seasons developing with Leigh Centurions.

He was a standout of the Leigh reserve team and a regular name on the score sheet and can also deputise as a stand off if required.

Coach Alan Kilshaw commented: "All three are young, hungry but have experience at this level, exactly what we need.

“Stuart is raw but naturally has an eye for a good running line.

“Corey is frighteningly quick, I have watched a lot of his matches and he likes to take his opposite number on the outside and in a foot race there aren’t many that get near him.

“Jack will add height and aggression to our pack. He is scared of no one and was unlucky last season with the dual registered players that were in front of him but he is another year older and more mature as both a person and a player.

“I am looking to forward to working with and developing all three of them and I am happy that they have chosen Rochdale Hornets for 2016."