Ex-Yorkshire Carnegie hooker Mike Mayhew eyes long-term deal at Doncaster Knights

The experienced Kiwi returned to the UK to sign short term for the South Yorkshire club at the end of November.

Unfortunately, he suffered an injury on his debut against Carnegie in the Championship Cup loss but returned for the league game between the sides on Saturday.

Mayhew, 31, came off the bench in the 30-22 defeat and hopes to gain more game-time when Doncaster – on a five-match losing run – are next in action at Coventry on January 12.

When it comes to his future, the ex-Newcastle Falcons player admitted: “If there’s a good option, I’m definitely keen to stay.

“I signed until the end of this season and we’ll see what happens from there.

“I just want to get some games under my belt.

“It was good to play the other day. It was pretty strange, though, as we’ve played Yorkshire three times now since I’ve been here.

“It’s been strange seeing some familiar faces so often but it has been good.

“After being injured in the first game, it was good to get some rugby in and come off the bench and get involved again despite the result.”

Aucklander Mayhew – who initially came to England with Wasps in 2011 – had been playing back in New Zealand for Waikato when Doncaster chief Clive Griffiths made his move.

He joined Carnegie from Waikato in 2016 and made 43 appearances for them but had a three-month loan at Premiership Harlequins last season. Mayhew also played alongside elder brother Richard at Carnegie, the flanker who, on Saturday, made his first appearance since being injured on the opening day of the campaign.

“It’s been a while since I last faced him,” he said.