FORMER England international Dan Scarbrough has returned to his spiritual home.
The twice-capped winger, who played for Wharfedale last season in SSE National League One, has signed for Yorkshire Two promotion-chasers Bradford Salem.
Bingley-born Scarbrough, who is head of senior rugby at Bradford Grammar School, is on the bench for Saturday’s re-arranged league match at Old Rishworthians, which was postponed last Saturday.
The former Broughton Park, Wakefield, Leeds Tykes and Saracens flier, who also played for Racing Metro and Lille MR in France, came through the juniors at Shay Lane, making his debut for their second team as a 17-year-old against Hemsworth Seconds in September 1995.
It was always on the cards that Scarbrough, whose elder brother Ben and dad Graham have also played for the club, would return to Salem at some stage.
The 36-year-old – he will be 37 next month – should be available for most of the rest of this season, England Legends playing commitments permitting, as his club strive to return to Yorkshire One, where most people believe they belong.
Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk said: “Dan, who is a friend of Wharfedale coach Jon Feeley, played for them last season, which led to him being picked by Yorkshire at the end of 2013-14.
“However, the only rugby he has played so far this season has been a couple of games for our second team, and even one for our third team.
“We chatted with Sam Gardner (director of rugby) about whether to start Dan but have decided to put him on the bench by mutual consent.
“However, his experience, both on and off the pitch, will hopefully give us a push to get us over the line for promotion.”
Last weekend’s postponement has given prop Simon Davies more time to rest his rib injury, but, Kiwis Marc Gibbons (No 8) and front-rower Ryan McKessar are both unavailable.
Bradford Salem (at Old Rishworthians): D Belcher; S Savage, R Smith, C Wood, C Malarkey; A Robinson, J Mitchell; J Bradbury, A Veitch, S Davies, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, D Snowden, J Booth, J Fawcett. Replacements: D Scarbrough, J Ashworth, C Clough.
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