PIRATES asset Kyle Newman has returned to Leicester for next year's SGB Premiership campaign.

The Poole-born racer spent the majority of 2017 on loan to the Lions following an injury-hit start to the season in the skull and crossbones.

After returning from a fractured shoulder blade and muscle damage, Newman lasted just four meetings before he was axed by Pirates chief Matt Ford.

He was quickly snapped up by the Lions and impressed sufficiently to earn a return to Beaumont Park.

Newman will link up with the likes of Danny King, Martin Vaculik, Krystian Pieszczek and Josh Bates at Leicester next season.

The 25-year-old has also signed for SGB Championship new boys Lakeside and joins Nick Morris, Richard Lawson and Ben Morley in the Hammers side.

Reflecting on his move to Purfleet, Newman said: “As soon as we found out I wasn’t at Ipswich, I always had Lakeside in the back of my head.

“It didn’t take long to do the deal and I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a track where I’ve always gone well so having home track advantage should be nice and the team is looking exciting.

“We’ve got some proven points scorers and a few guys with a point to prove like myself so, hopefully, we can have a good season.”