We are delighted to confirm that former Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity prop/loose forward Eddie Battye has penned a one-year deal with Birmingham Hurricanes following his departure from fellow Championship side Hunslet.
Battye, 35, boasts over 360 professional appearances at Super League, Championship and Super XIII level. He began his rugby league career at community team Hillsborough Hawks (as they were then known), but was picked up by Sheffield Eagles and would go on to make his professional debut for the Eagles shortly after his 17th birthday, off the bench against Dewsbury Rams.
He would continue playing for the Hawks for a few seasons, but would go on to make a handful of appearances for Sheffield in 2011 before departing to play for French side Villeneuve Leopards for the 2012 Elite 1 season, scoring three tries in 17 appearances. Returning to the Eagles in 2013, he would feature 69 times and score five tries across three seasons before joining fellow Championship side London Broncos.
Whilst his most famous moment in the Capital might be the fantastic try-scoring graphic of him demolishing a meal-deal sandwich, Eddie would make over 100 appearances for the London club across five seasons, and regularly featured as the Broncos spent three seasons as a real contender for promotion through the “Middle 8s”. After succeeding at the third time of asking after a scintillating 4-2 win over Toronto Wolfpack in Canada, he would play 30 times for the Broncos in Super League as they would agonisingly be relegated on points difference despite winning ten of their 29 league games.
Whilst he would remain with the Broncos for the 2020 Championship season, the cancellation of professional rugby league below Super League after a handful of games would present him with an opportunity to join then-Super League strugglers Wakefield Trinity, making eight appearances and scoring a single try. He would eventually make that move permanent in 2021, making 68 further appearances for Trinity before departing the club following it’s relegation from Super League at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Earning his match-ball of stints with the club, he would re-join Sheffield Eagles ahead of the 2024 season on a two-year deal. He would make just under 60 appearances during this period, scoring six tries.
Swapping the south of Yorkshire for the west, he would don the myrtle, white and flame of Hunslet last season on a one-year deal. A fan favourite of the Parksiders, he would score three tries in 26 appearances before going on to pick up the Coaches Year of the Award at the end of the season.
Entering his 18th professional season, Eddie has swapped Yorkshire for the Second City and will be looking to bring his significant experience at all levels of the game to the Canes and help the club make it’s next stride in the Championship.
On speaking with Battye, he had this to say on joining the Canes:
I’m delighted to have signed for the Hurricanes for the 2027 season!
It’s an exciting time for the club, and I’m looking forward to being part of the journey.
The team had a successful season last year, and I’m hoping to bring my experience that will help drive standards and build on the foundations already in place.
The aim is to keep improving as a group and put ourselves in a strong position to be a real force in the playoffs at the back end of 2027. I can’t wait to get started!
Men’s Head Coach, Mark Dunning, said this on landing Eddie:
We’re delighted to welcome Eddie and his family to the club.
Eddie is a player we have attempted to recruit for the last two seasons but have unfortunately been unable to get it done, but to finally have him onboard at the third attempt is great.
Eddie is a big, strong man, who has been there, seen it and done it at this level and Super League, so his leadership and experience will be great for our squad.
He’s brings a point of difference to our middle unit with his detail, skill as well as his size and strength, and I’m sure he will get the supporters excited with what he can produce on the field in a Canes shirt.
Eddie officially becomes our first new signing for the 2027 season and third piece of squad news (after announcing Roberts and McGowan’s extensions in previous weeks). We’re far from done on announcing retentions and new faces at the club, so keep your eyes peeled for more Canes news!
