FORMER Ysgol Bro Morgannwg pupil Sion Jones has celebrated his 20th birthday by signing his first professional contract with Championship rugby league side, Halifax RLFC.

The Barry youngster has been training with the club since the summer as part of their reserve grade setup, and has now signed professional terms with the club ahead of the new season.

Jones joins the first team alongside fellow South Wales players, twins Connor and Curtis Davies.

Halifax head coach Richard Marshall told the club website that he was excited to see the trio progress as part of the main squad this year.

Marshall said: “We’ve promoted them up off the back of their efforts and their performances in the reserve grade last year.

"All three are over at Leeds Beckett University, where they also play student rugby league and have represented Wales at that level so we acted quickly on these lads. They came through the system at South Wales Scorpions and we were alerted to their potential via our link with the club. They have impressed us during pre-season and we wanted to tie them up to contracts.

"Sion is a front rower. He looks the part and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop.

"We think they’ll offer us some competition for places and hope they’ll forge their way into the first team this year."