Sao pens new deal to stay at FC in wake of Rapana's retirement

AND FELLOW VETERAN BRISCOE IS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW SUIT SHORTLY

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Ligi Sao can’t wait to get back playing for Hull FC next year and repay the faith shown in him by the club.

The prop forward suffered a season-ending knee injury back in February but has got stuck into his rehab ever since and will now return to preseason training this autumn.

As exclusively reported by Hull Live yesterday morning, Sao has signed a new deal at the club, taking his stay at Hull into a seventh season.

He will take the quota spot vacated by Jordan Rapana, with the Kiwi last week confirming his retirement at the season’s end.

Penning a new one-year contract, Sao, who became a Hull centurion last year and has 104 appearances to his name, will now run alongside a pack containing the likes of Herman Ese’ese, Liam Knight, Sam Lisone, and Harvey Hill, with the ability to also double up in the back row if required.