AMBITIOUS Pendle have snapped up powerful New Zealand prop Caleb White ahead of the new campaign, beginning at Disdbury Toc H on Saturday.

Kiwi White, from Christchurch, is the major addition to Pendle’s North Lancashire Division Two title winning squad - and he looks likely to make his league bow this weekend in Greater Manchester.

Pendle captain James Finucane said: “Caleb looks a good player and we have been very impressed with him during pre-season training.”

Finucane, who steered Pendle to the championship, said: “Caleb has a visa for two years so he hopefully he will be with us for that period of time.

“He decided he wanted to travel and contacted Pendle about playing here.

“We’ve arranged with him to stay with one of the players, so the arrangement has worked out really well.”

Pendle will compete in the Lancashire North Division this term after North One and North Two clubs combined to form the new league structure.

The reshuffle came due to a lack of teams in the North Lancs Two while it also cut back on the travelling teams were doing from as far as Cumbria to Merseyside.

However, the change means Pendle were denied the oppotunity of tasting ‘real’ promotion as they will face several teams they played against last season - including local rivals Colne and Nelson.

“A few of the boys said they were a bit disheartened when the league was changed because they wanted to play in a higher grade of rugby,” added Finucane.