THOMAS TEAMS UP WITH THE PIRATES

Poole Pirates can announce that 23 year old Jack Thomas will be a 2023 Pirate after his previous Championship spells with Glasgow, Leicester, Birmingham and, last season, Oxford. 

Despite breaking two ribs at the very beginning of the season whilst riding for his Premiership club King's Lynn, the Norfolk youngster quickly recovered and was making excellent progress last term with the Oxford Cheetahs, rapidly moving from reserve into the main body of the team, until he sustained two broken wrists in another crash whilst riding for his senior side on June 9th.

Poole promoter Dan Ford believes that Jack is the perfect rider to fit the bill at Poole, admitting "Jack has an absolute steal of an average. He comes in on 4.78 and that is a figure that he is well capable of significantly increasing and it will be interesting to see his progress. I am sure that the Poole fans will give him the welcome he deserves and once he gets settled here I am certain that they will be right behind him."

Thomas, who has also joined Premiership side Ipswich for the season, is looking forward to his new challenge with the Pirates, claiming "I am really looking forward to being part of the Poole Pirates for next season. I am grateful for the opportunity. It is one of my favourite tracks, to be honest, and I am really looking forward to meeting all the fans and hopefully it will feel like home and we can all have another good season."