Rotherham Extend Rath and Maddison Contracts

Rotherham Titans are pleased to announce Ben Rath has agreed terms which will see him remain at Clifton Lane for the 2014/15 season.

The 21 years-old full back/wing has enjoyed his first season with the Titans and he'll be aiming to break into the match day 22 on a regular basis next term. During the 2013-14 campaign Rath made two appearances from the bench against Llanelli and Connacht at Clifton Lane in the B&I Cup, scoring a fine try in the latter.

Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Rath has previously played for Waterloo and Fylde and has also represented North U20's and England Counties U20's.

Titans Lee Blackett said of Rath's extended stay, "Ben has masses of potential and I'm delighted that he'll be at Clifton Lane next season. There are very few players around who can change direction at top-end speed, but Ben has that ability and that is what makes him so special. I was lucky enough to play at Rotherham with Dave Strettle and although I'm not saying Ben is Strettle, he can change direction at pace just like Strettle.

"Ben has raw ability and he'll have to work hard throughout the year, but we wouldn't have resigned him if we didn't see the huge potential he has. We think Ben will go far in his rugby career and hopefully we can take him there. It's going to be tough for him because the back three positions are probably our strongest within the team and it's going to be a tough area to break into, but if he works hard and with his natural ability he will really push those boys for a starting place.”

In addition to this, Barney Maddison has also penned a deal which will see him remain at Clifton Lane for the 2014/15 season.

Second rower Maddison, 25, will extend his stay into a fourth season, having joined the club from Tynedale during the summer of 2011. In total Barney has made 47 appearances for the Titans, 43 of which have been in the Championship, although his debut arrived in the British & Irish Cup away to Leeds Carnegie in September 2011.

Hexham-born Maddison is currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme after suffering an ACL injury and is expected to be back in the thick of it by October this year.

Titans head coach Lee Blackett is thrilled that Maddison will be around for a fourth season, as he explained, "Barney is a massive character around the club, he's a big club man and I'm delighted that he'll be with us again next term. He's obviously disappointed with the knee injury he suffered, but we expect him to be back in October and so he won't miss too much at the start of next season.

"Barney is someone who a lot of people around the club have a lot of respect for and he's everything I want from a player, he's very physical and confrontational and that's the type of character we're looking for. Hence that's why this year on occasions he's been captain and he's obviously the clubs vice captain.

"Naturally he has a leadership role within the club, but more than anything we respect him as a player because he puts his body on the line every time he wears a Rotherham shirt and we are delighted that he'll be with again for next season.”