Director of Rugby Andy Gaffney hopes Carl Forster's leadership skills can help drive Barrow Raiders to Championship promotion next season - after the former Whitehaven man penned a new two year deal at the club.

Forster arrived at Craven Park for the 2020 campaign, having won promotion with Whitehaven the previous year.

However the former St Helens prop played just two games before the Betfred League One campaign was curtailed by the Covid-19 crisis.

Gaffney has been working hard in recent months, putting plans in place for when competitive rugby returns, and is delighted to have secured the signing of Forster for another two years.

He said: "He's re-signing with us from last year, and it is a great signing for us.

"He has some great leadership skills and he is also great in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch.

"He is just a great all round professional and will help us build towards promotion to the Championship next year."

Forster originally signed a one year deal with the club last year, and featured in the season openers as Raiders won their first two games.

He is looking to hit the ground running again in the next campaign and is pleased to have nailed down his future for the coming two years.

The 28-year-old said: "It is great to get the deal sign after having such a limited time of it here last season.

"I'm pleased that I have secured my future for the next two years and I can now fully focus on preparing for next season.

"It has been difficult with the current situation, because we don't know when we will return and you don't want to be doing too much too soon.

"It was a simple decision to re-sign, the league will be tough next year but if we can keep the squad together we should be in with a good chance."

The re-signing of Forster follows the acquisition of former grand final winner Shaun Lunt, who signed for the club earlier this month.

The only player to leave the club since the curtailment of the league season has been Lee Jewitt, who has penned a one year deal with Championship outfit Widnes Vikings.

Elsewhere, Raiders could potentially be involved in the 125 cup, with the club announcing talks have taken place with the RFL.

No date has been set regarding fixtures, however the club said in a statement 'conditions of entry look favourable', after discussions took place with BAE Systems around Covid testing for players.