CHRIS Fleming has answered the call for Barrow Raiders in their hour of need by coming out of retirement from professional rugby to play for them in Toronto this weekend.

The winger, who announced his retirement midway through last season due to work commitments, phoned Raiders head coach Paul Crarey with an offer to help the team through a player shortage that saw them travel to Featherstone Rovers on Sunday with just 15 fit players.

Fleming has been playing at amateur level since leaving the professional game, having scored 15 tries in 34 appearances for Barrow during his previous spell at Craven Park, and Crarey was delighted to welcome him back.

“Chris Fleming has been playing for Ashton Bears, but he phoned me,” said Crarey. “He still comes to watch our games, he's still in the players' group and he said he'll take three days off work and he'll play.

“He came to a training session on Tuesday and he was blowing a bit, but he said he's just going to enjoy it and use it as an experience, and that's what we've got to do.

“Are we going to win at Toronto on a full squad? I don't think anybody will win out there this season because the trip is so hard.

“We've just got to get through this period as a club and get some bodies back for when these target games come around.”

Fleming and his Raiders team-mates flew out to Toronto yesterday, with the squad including another new face in the shape of Barrow Island amateur Ben Garner, who came on board after Island coach Joe Elliott phoned to offer Crarey players if needed.

Crarey has been a long-time admirer of former BARLA Great Britain international Garner, having wanted to sign him ahead of the 2015 season when he returned to Raiders as head coach, and thanked Elliott for his help.

“I tried to sign Ben when I came in for the start of my second spell, but he got a horrific injury on his knee,” said Crarey.

“He's a warrior, very tough and a stand-out player for Barrow Island, and to put his hand up to go when we're depleted is a massive thing to do.

“In the past, at this club, it would never have happened that an amateur coach would phone the Barrow coach and offer players, but I have a great relationship with clubs in the area and they'll help me out, and they've done that.

“Ben has played for Great Britain, and we'll take him and play him on the wing so it keeps him out of the way as well.”