Hull FC sign Joe Batchelor for 2026

Hull FC have confirmed the signing of Joe Batchelor on a three-year deal from St Helens.

Following on from Sam Lisone, Jake Arthur and Connor Bailey, the second-rower becomes Hull's fourth new signing ahead of the 2026 Betfred Super League campaign, signing a contract at the MKM Stadium until the end of 2028.

The 30-year-old is ready for a new challenge after a seven-year spell with St Helens, during which time he won four Grand Finals and one Challenge Cup title.

Before making a name for himself in Super League, Batchelor cut his professional Rugby League teeth in the lower divisions, first with Coventry Bears, now known as Midlands Hurricanes, and then at York Knights, where he returned 38 tries in 48 games.

Such was his try-scoring prowess for York in 2018, he finished the season as the club's top try-scorer and helped the Knights attain Championship status, just seven years before the club went on to lift the League Leaders' Shield in the second division. 

After two strong years at Bootham Crescent, Batchelor secured a move to St Helens, and he kicked off his Super League career with an Easter Monday victory over the Black & Whites in 2019.

It was in 2021 that the back-rower enjoyed his real breakthrough year, before posting a return of 12 tries in 29 appearances in 2022. 

On the back of his strong year in 2022, Batchelor was selected for international duty with England at the Rugby League World Cup. He played in a group stage fixture against Greece at Brammall Lane, scoring a try in a comprehensive victory for the host nation.

Now he prepares to move to East Yorkshire and join the Black & Whites in 2026, where he will come up against younger brother, James Batchelor, in the Hull Derby next season. 

"I've been watching everything that's been happening at the club from afar this year and everything I've seen so far has made me really excited to be a part of it," Batchelor told hullfc.com. 

"It was a really difficult decision for me to leave St Helens and it was one that wasn't taken lightly. I've had some really good times there and I've got a lot of respect for the club, so it had to be a really exciting opportunity to draw me away. 

"I realised that the opportunity at Hull was something that is aligned to what Rugby League is about for me. It's an exciting challenge ahead and I can't wait to get my teeth into it. 

"The first thing for me is that I've got to earn the respect of the group. What they've done this year can't be underestimated, and how tight they all are is really impressive, so I've got to make sure I come in and earn their respect."

Hull FC Director of Rugby, Gareth Ellis, added: "We're delighted to get our hands on a player of Joe's calibre, not only for what he will bring to us on the field, but also his character in the dressing room.

"He is an experienced player and he has operated in one of the strongest sides we have seen in Super League in recent memory - winning the Grand Final four times consecutively is no mean feat.

"We have identified the need to really strengthen our back-row options for 2026. Within the last few days, we have actively taken steps to solve that with the additions of Connor Bailey and Joe Batchelor - two players I'm sure our fans will be very happy to see in the Black & White colours in 2026."